Routing incoming calls made to one or more unreachable numbers into a data client

ABSTRACT

A method and a call routing system (CRS) are provided for routing an incoming call made to one of multiple numbers of a user to a call receiving client application (CRCA) deployed on one or more user devices when the called number is not reachable. The CRS, in communication with the CRCA deployed on one or more user devices, sets up a user account using one or more of the user&#39;s multiple numbers. The CRS detects availability of the CRCA on one or more user devices over a data network to accept an incoming call. The CRS receives the incoming call made to one of the numbers, when the called number is not reachable. The CRS routes the incoming call to the CRCA on one or more user devices over the data network on detecting the availability of the CRCA on one or more user devices over the data network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of non-provisional patent applicationSer. No. 16/667,918 titled “Routing Incoming Calls Made To One Or MoreUnreachable Numbers Into A Data Client”, filed in the United StatesPatent and Trademark Office on Oct. 30, 2019, which is a continuationapplication of non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/131,048titled “Routing Incoming Calls Made To One Or More Unreachable NumbersInto A Data Client”, filed in the United States Patent and TrademarkOffice on Sep. 14, 2018, which is a continuation application ofnon-provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/429,133 titled “RoutingIncoming Calls Made To One Or More Unreachable Numbers Into A DataClient”, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Feb.9, 2017, which claims the benefit of the provisional patent applicationNo. 62/294,289 titled “Routing Incoming Calls Made To One Or MoreUnreachable Numbers Into A Data Client”, filed in the United StatesPatent and Trademark Office on Feb. 11, 2016. The specification of theabove referenced patent application is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

BACKGROUND

As mobile networks and data communication technologies have evolved,calls can be made and received on phones not only using voice callingcapabilities of mobile networks, but also using a data communicationcapability of these phones. Applications can also be run on data enabledphones, for example, smartphones, to allow users to obtain variousservices through data networks.

There are times when a user's phone does not have access to atelecommunications network, for example, a voice network for making andreceiving voice calls, but has a data network capability on the phoneusing a carrier's mobile data network or a Wi-Fi® connection of Wi-FiAlliance Corporation. As used herein, “carrier” refers to atelecommunications network operator or service provider that providescommunication services, for example, telecommunication services to endusers and controls elements, for example, radio spectrum allocation,wireless network infrastructure, back haul infrastructure, billingsystems, customer care systems, provisioning computer systems, repairsystems, etc., required for delivering communication services to the endusers. For example, a user's phone may be out of mobile network coveragebut is connected to a Wi-Fi® network. In another case, the user mayexplicitly turn off the mobile network on the phone while roaming toavoid high roaming charges, but the user's phone may be connected to aWi-Fi® network. In such cases, the user is unable to make or receivecalls using a voice calling capability of the telecommunicationsnetwork. When a calling party makes a call to a user's mobile number,the call cannot be routed to the user's phone in the above cases and thecall attempt is incomplete. If the user has a conventional callcompletion service such as missed call notifications or voicemailenabled on the mobile number, the calling party will receive an optionto send a voice message. However, the user is unable to receive theincoming call even if the user has data network capability on the phone.Hence, there is a need for routing an incoming call to a called partydevice using the data network capability of the phone when the calledparty device does not have a voice calling capability.

In another scenario, a user may have multiple numbers. However, at aparticular time, the user may not have access to all of the multiplenumbers. As a result, the user is unable to receive an incoming callfrom a calling party to one of the multiple numbers to which the userdoes not have access at the time. Hence, there is a need for routing anincoming missed call received for one of the numbers belonging to theuser to an application of a user device, for example, a mobile phone ora tablet using a data network.

Hence, there is a long felt need for a method and a system for routingan incoming call made to one of multiple numbers of a user, to a callreceiving client application deployed on one or more user devices whenone of the numbers being called is not reachable. Moreover, there is aneed for a method and a system for routing an incoming call to a callreceiving client application deployed on one or more user devices usinga data network when the user devices do not have a voice callingcapability on a telecommunications network. Furthermore, there is a needfor a method and a system for routing an incoming missed call receivedfor one of the numbers belonging to the user, to a call receiving clientapplication deployed on one or more user devices using the data network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further disclosed in the detailed descriptionof the invention. This summary is not intended to determine the scope ofthe claimed subject matter.

The method and the system disclosed herein address the above recitedneed for routing an incoming call made to one of multiple numbers of auser, to a call receiving client application deployed on one or moreuser devices when one of the numbers being called is not reachable.Moreover, the method and the system disclosed herein route an incomingcall to the call receiving client application deployed on one or moreuser devices using a data network when the user devices do not have avoice calling capability on a telecommunications network. Furthermore,the method and the system disclosed herein route an incoming missed callreceived for one of the numbers belonging to the user, to the callreceiving client application deployed on one or more user devices usingthe data network.

The method disclosed herein employs a call routing system comprising oneor more processors configured to execute computer program instructionsfor routing an incoming call made to one of multiple numbers of a user,to a call receiving client application (CRCA) deployed on one or more ofmultiple user devices when one of the numbers is not reachable. The callrouting system, in communication with the CRCA deployed on one or moreof the user devices, sets up a user account for the user using one ormore of the multiple numbers of the user. The call routing systemdetects availability of the CRCA on one or more of the user devices overa data network to accept an incoming call. The call routing systemreceives the incoming call made to one of the numbers, when the callednumber is not reachable. The call routing system routes the receivedincoming call to the CRCA on one or more of the user devices over thedata network on detecting the availability of the CRCA on one or more ofthe user devices over the data network.

In one or more embodiments, related systems comprise circuitry and/orprogramming for effecting the methods disclosed herein. The circuitryand/or programming can be any combination of hardware, software, and/orfirmware configured to effect the methods disclosed herein dependingupon the design choices of a system designer. Also, various structuralelements can be employed depending on the design choices of the systemdesigner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with theappended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention,exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings.However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods andcomponents disclosed herein. The description of a method step or acomponent referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to thedescription of that method step or component shown by that same numeralin any subsequent drawing herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a method for routing an incoming call made to one ofmultiple numbers of a user, to a call receiving client applicationdeployed on one or more of multiple user devices when one of the numbersbeing called is not reachable.

FIG. 2A exemplarily illustrates a system comprising a carrier mediaplatform, a carrier incoming call routing server, and a cloud incomingcall routing server implemented in a distributed cloud computingenvironment, for routing an incoming call made to one of multiplenumbers of a user, to the call receiving client application deployed onone or more of multiple user devices when one of the numbers beingcalled is not reachable.

FIG. 2B exemplarily illustrates an embodiment of the system shown inFIG. 2A, further comprising a cloud media platform implemented in adistributed cloud computing environment, for routing an incoming callmade to one of multiple numbers of a user, to the call receiving clientapplication deployed on one or more of multiple user devices when one ofthe numbers being called is not reachable.

FIG. 2C exemplarily illustrates an embodiment of the system comprisingthe carrier media platform, a voicemail/missed call alert server withincoming call routing functionality, and a cloud incoming call routingserver implemented in a distributed cloud computing environment, forrouting an incoming call made to one of multiple numbers of a user, tothe call receiving client application deployed on one or more ofmultiple user devices when one of the numbers being called is notreachable.

FIG. 2D exemplarily illustrates an embodiment of the system shown inFIG. 2C, further comprising the cloud media platform implemented in adistributed cloud computing environment, for routing an incoming callmade to one of multiple numbers of a user, to the call receiving clientapplication deployed on one or more of multiple user devices when one ofthe numbers being called is not reachable.

FIG. 3A exemplarily illustrates communication between the carrierincoming call routing server, the cloud incoming call routing server,the carrier media platform, and a called party device for routing anincoming call made to one of multiple numbers of a user, to the callreceiving client application deployed on the called party device whenone of the numbers being called is not reachable.

FIG. 3B exemplarily illustrates an embodiment showing communicationbetween the carrier incoming call routing server, the cloud incomingcall routing server, the carrier media platform, the cloud mediaplatform, and a called party device for routing an incoming call made toone of multiple numbers of a user, to the call receiving clientapplication deployed on the called party device when one of the numbersbeing called is not reachable.

FIG. 4A exemplarily illustrates modules of the cloud incoming callrouting server used for routing an incoming call made to one of multiplenumbers of a user, to the call receiving client application deployed onone or more of multiple user devices when one of the numbers beingcalled is not reachable.

FIG. 4B exemplarily illustrates modules of the carrier incoming callrouting server used for routing an incoming call made to one of multiplenumbers of a user, to the call receiving client application deployed onone or more of multiple user devices when one of the numbers beingcalled is not reachable.

FIG. 5A exemplarily illustrates communication between the carrierincoming call routing server and the carrier media platform for routingan incoming call made to one of multiple numbers of a user, to the callreceiving client application deployed on one or more of multiple userdevices when one of the numbers being called is not reachable.

FIG. 5B exemplarily illustrates communication between the carrierincoming call routing server, the carrier media platform, and the cloudmedia platform for routing an incoming call made to one of multiplenumbers of a user, to the call receiving client application deployed onone or more of multiple user devices when one of the numbers beingcalled is not reachable.

FIGS. 6A-6B exemplarily illustrate an architectural diagram of thesystem for routing an incoming call made to one of multiple numbers of auser, to the call receiving client application deployed on one or moreof multiple user devices when one of the numbers being called is notreachable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a method for routing an incoming call made to one ofmultiple numbers of a user to a call receiving client application(CRCA), also referred to as a “data client”, deployed on one or more ofmultiple user devices when one of the numbers being called is notreachable. The number being called is deemed not reachable, for example,when one or more of the user devices associated with the number do nothave access to a telecommunications network, for example, a voicenetwork, or when one or more of the user devices associated with thenumber are out of network coverage, or when one or more of the userdevices associated with the number are switched off, or when the userdisables the telecommunications network on one or more user devicesassociated with the number to avoid high roaming charges, or when theuser is roaming, that is, using a roaming network, and does not have aprepaid credit balance to receive an incoming call, or when the userdoes not have a prepaid credit balance to receive an incoming call in acountry where incoming calls are charged even while not roaming, or whenthe number is busy, etc. The number being called is deemed not reachablealso when an incoming call to the number is unanswered, for example,when the user is not able to answer the incoming call if the user deviceassociated with the number is not within easy reach or is left at home.The number being called is deemed not reachable also when the user isbusy on another call on the user device associated with the number,where the incoming call is first delivered. The telecommunicationsnetwork is, for example, a wired telephony network, a wireless network,a voice network, a signaling system number 7 (SS7) network, a mobiletelecommunication network, a public telephone network, etc.

The method disclosed herein employs a call routing system comprising oneor more processors configured to execute computer program instructionsfor routing an incoming call made to one of multiple numbers of a user,to a call receiving client application (CRCA) deployed on one or more ofmultiple user devices when one of the numbers being called is notreachable. The user downloads and installs a CRCA on one or more ofmultiple user devices, for example, personal computers, tablet computingdevices, mobile computers, mobile phones, smartphones, portablecomputing devices, laptops, personal digital assistants, etc., havingoperating systems, for example, the Android® operating system of GoogleInc., the iOS® operating system of Apple Inc., the Windows® operatingsystem of Microsoft Corporation, the Blackberry® of Blackberry LimitedCorporation, or any other device with a smart operating system.

The call receiving client application (CRCA) on one or more of multipleuser devices communicates with the call routing system via a datanetwork. As used herein, “data network” refers to a communicationnetwork over which data can be transmitted, for example, between userdevices, between a server and a user device, between a media platformand a user device, etc. Examples of the data network comprise theInternet, an intranet, a wireless network, a communication network thatimplements Bluetooth® of Bluetooth Sig, Inc., a network that implementsWi-Fi® of Wi-Fi Alliance Corporation, a cellular operator's data networksuch as a carrier's mobile data network, a third generation (3G) mobilecommunication network, a fourth generation (4G) mobile communicationnetwork, a fifth generation (5G) mobile communication network, along-term evolution (LTE) mobile communication network, anultra-wideband communication network (UWB), a wireless universal serialbus (USB) communication network, a communication network that implementsZigBee® of ZigBee Alliance Corporation, a general packet radio service(GPRS) network, an internet connection network, an infraredcommunication network, etc., or a network formed from any combination ofthese networks.

The call routing system comprises an incoming call routing server(ICRS), a media platform, and a voicemail/missed call alert (MCA) serverthat completes incomplete calls. In an embodiment, the call routingsystem is implemented in a distributed cloud computing environment witha carrier ICRS deployed in a carrier's data center and a cloud ICRSdeployed outside the carrier's data center, where the carrier ICRScommunicates with the cloud ICRS over a secure data network. As usedherein, “distributed cloud computing environment” refers to a processingenvironment comprising configurable computing physical and logicalresources, for example, networks, servers, storage media, applications,virtual machines, services, etc., and data distributed over one or morenetworks comprising, for example, secure data networks and public datanetworks such as the internet. The distributed cloud computingenvironment provides on-demand network access to a shared pool of thedistributed computing physical and logical resources. Also, as usedherein, “secure data network” refers to a data network controlled by thecarrier to allow selective access from authorized servers and devicesoutside the carrier's data center to servers inside the carrier's datacenter, while preventing unauthorized access, misuse, and modificationof network resources. In another embodiment where security policies ofthe carrier do not allow direct communication between the media platformin the carrier's data center, herein referred to as a “carrier mediaplatform”, and the CRCA on one or more user devices, the call routingsystem comprises the carrier ICRS, the cloud ICRS, the carrier mediaplatform, and a cloud media platform implemented in the distributedcloud computing environment, where the carrier media platformcommunicates with the cloud media platform over the secure data network.In this embodiment, the cloud media platform communicates with the CRCAon one or more user devices over a public data network. As used herein,“public data network” refers to a data network that is open to publicaccess and accessible in the public domain by user devices. In anotherembodiment, instead of the carrier ICRS, the call routing systemcomprises a voicemail/MCA server with incoming call routingfunctionality. The voicemail/MCA server with incoming call routingfunctionality communicates with the cloud ICRS over the secure datanetwork in the distributed cloud computing environment. To implement thedistributed cloud computing environment, the call routing system isdeveloped, for example, using one or more of the Google App engine cloudinfrastructure of Google Inc., Amazon Web Services® of AmazonTechnologies, Inc., the Amazon elastic compute cloud EC2° web service ofAmazon Technologies, Inc., the Google® Cloud platform of Google Inc.,the Microsoft® Cloud platform of Microsoft Corporation, etc.

The incoming call routing server (ICRS) of the call routing systemdisclosed herein, in communication with the call receiving clientapplication (CRCA) deployed on one or more of the user devices, sets 101up a user account for the user using one or more of the multiple numbersof the user. In an embodiment, the ICRS allows the user to set up theuser account with a single number associated with a subscriber identitymodule (SIM) card that the user owns. In another embodiment, if the userhas multiple subscriber identity module (SIM) cards, where each of theSIM cards is associated with a distinct number, the ICRS allows the userto set up the user account with each of these distinct numbers. In anembodiment, the ICRS allows the user to set up the user account withmultiple numbers associated with a single carrier in a singlegeographical location, or with different carriers in a singlegeographical location, or with a single carrier in multiple differentgeographical locations, or with different carriers in differentgeographical locations. For example, the ICRS allows the user to set upthe user account with multiple numbers associated with the same countryand carrier, or with different carriers in the same country, or withmultiple carriers in different countries. In an embodiment, the ICRSsets up the user account for the user using the CRCA on a single userdevice. In another embodiment, if the user owns multiple user devices,the user can download and configure the CRCA on each of the multipleuser devices owned by the user. In this embodiment, the ICRS allows theuser to receive the incoming call on another user device when the useris busy on another call on one user device, where the incoming call isfirst delivered. In an embodiment, the user can download and configurethe CRCA on multiple user devices that are manufactured by the samevendors, for example, Apple Inc., or Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., andthat run the same type of operating system, for example, the iOS®operating system of Apple Inc., the Android® OS of Google Inc., theWindows® operating system of Microsoft Corporation, etc. In anotherembodiment, the user can download and configure the CRCA on multipleuser devices manufactured by different vendors and running differentoperating systems. The data inputted to the ICRS, for example, thenumbers received from the user and account information to set up theuser account is transformed, processed, and executed by an algorithm inthe ICRS.

After downloading the call receiving client application (CRCA) on one ormore user devices, the user sets up the CRCA with the incoming callrouting server (ICRS) using one of the numbers that the user owns. TheCRCA and the ICRS set up the user account for the user using a numberprovided by the user. To ensure that the user owns the number providedby the user, the ICRS then validates the number received from the userusing one or more of multiple authentication mechanisms. An example ofan authentication mechanism implemented by the ICRS comprisestransmitting a validation code to the number of the user to be validatedby the ICRS via a message sent by the ICRS or an outbound dialing callinitiated by the media platform of the call routing system, receiving aninput code captured by the CRCA from one of the user devices associatedwith the number, and matching the received input code with thetransmitted validation code. Another example of an authenticationmechanism implemented by the ICRS comprises sending a message to thenumber of the user to be validated by the ICRS, and receiving aconfirmation from the CRCA that the sent message is received on one ofthe user devices indicating that one of the user devices contains asubscriber identity module (SIM) with the number of the user to bevalidated. Another example of an authentication mechanism implemented bythe ICRS comprises receiving a message sent from the CRCA on one of theuser devices to a predetermined number and matching a source number ofthe message with the number of the user to be validated. Another exampleof an authentication mechanism implemented by the ICRS comprisesreceiving a missed call placed by the CRCA on one of the user devices toa predefined number and matching a source number of the missed call withthe number of the user to be validated. The ICRS assigns the number usedfor setting up the user account as a primary number for the useraccount.

The incoming call routing server (ICRS) allows the user to linkadditional numbers to the same user account. The ICRS receives theadditional numbers owned by the user, validates each additional numberusing one of the authentication mechanisms disclosed above, and linksthe received additional numbers to the same user account. The ICRSperforms one of the authentication mechanisms, for example, receiving avalidation code captured by the call receiving client application (CRCA)from a user device and matching the received validation code with thevalidation code sent by the ICRS to the number via a short messageservice (SMS) message; receiving a validation code captured by the CRCAfrom the user device and matching the received validation code with thevalidation code played on an outbound dialing (OBD) call initiated bythe ICRS; receiving a confirmation from the CRCA that an SMS messagesent from the ICRS to the number to be validated is received on one ofthe user devices indicating that the user device that received the SMSmessage contains a subscriber identity module (SIM) with the number tobe validated; receiving an SMS message sent from the CRCA on one of theuser devices to a predetermined number and matching the source number ofthe SMS message with the number to be validated; receiving a missed callplaced by the CRCA on one of the user devices to a predefined number andmatching an originating number of the missed call with the number to bevalidated, etc., for all the multiple numbers linked by the user to theuser account. The ICRS designates each of the linked additional numbersas secondary numbers for the user account. Each of the numbersassociated with the user account, for example, the primary number or thesecondary number is a validated number for the user account. The ICRSallows the user to change the primary number of the user account at anytime by selecting one of the validated numbers as the updated primarynumber for the user account. The ICRS also allows the user to delink thevalidated primary number or any of the validated secondary numbers fromthe user account. To delink the primary number, the user needs todesignate another validated number as the primary number beforedelinking the primary number. The ICRS receives the other validatednumber from the CRCA and designates the other validated number as theupdated primary number before delinking or removing the primary number.

The user can also set a password to allow the user to login or sign intothe call receiving client application (CRCA) from the same user deviceor from any other user device deploying the CRCA. The incoming callrouting server (ICRS) sets the password for logging into the CRCAdeployed on one or more of the user devices with one or more numbers ofthe user. The user can login to the CRCA from multiple user devicesusing the same user account set up by the ICRS for the user. The userneeds to validate the number by entering the password or by using theauthentication mechanisms disclosed above. The ICRS validates and linksthe numbers of the user through one or more authentication mechanismsdisclosed above. In an embodiment, the ICRS validates the number byproviding the authentication information of the user. The ICRS maintainsa database of all user accounts and the validated numbers associatedwith each user account. The database comprises a column that indicateswhich of the user accounts have one or more of the user devices withnumbers that are currently linked to the user account set up by the ICRSto receive calls over a data network. The ICRS updates the status ofeach user account, that is, whether a user account is registered toreceive incoming calls on the data network or not, in the database. TheICRS also stores details about the user device from which the user hasregistered to be available to receive incoming calls over the datanetwork using the CRCA on the user device. In an embodiment, the ICRSsets up the user account with the CRCA deployed on each of the userdevices and associates one or more of the numbers of the user with theuser account. A generic computer using a generic program cannot validateone or more numbers of the user and set up the user account with thevalidated numbers to receive incoming calls over the data network usingthe CRCA deployed on one or more user devices in accordance with themethod steps disclosed above.

The incoming call routing server (ICRS) detects 102 availability of thecall receiving client application (CRCA) on one or more of the userdevices over the data network to accept an incoming call, on receiving aquery for the availability of the CRCA on the user devices from themedia platform. In an embodiment, the ICRS detects the availability ofthe CRCA on one or more of the user devices over the data network, whenthe CRCA is connected to the data network and registers itself with theICRS to indicate the availability of the CRCA to accept incoming calls.“Registration of the CRCA with the ICRS” refers to indicatingavailability of the CRCA on a user device when the CRCA connects to thedata network and the user logs into the CRCA on the user device. Thatis, the ICRS detects availability of the CRCA by detecting a connectionof the CRCA to the data network and registration of the CRCA on one ormore of the user devices. The CRCA deregisters from the user device whenthe user logs out or signs out from the user device. The ICRS detectsthe deregistration of the CRCA on one or more of the user devices. TheICRS detects all other scenarios when the CRCA is no longer connected tothe data network and deregisters the CRCA. For example, the ICRS detectswhen the CRCA is disabled or deactivated on the user device, or when theuser device on which the CRCA is installed, is switched off, etc. TheICRS also detects when the CRCA is deregistered on one or more of theuser devices to allow the CRCA to re-register when the CRCA connects tothe data network. A generic computer using a generic program cannotdetect availability of the CRCA on one or more of the user devices overthe data network to accept an incoming call in accordance with themethod steps disclosed above.

When a calling party calls one of the numbers of the user, for example,the primary number or one of the secondary numbers linked to the useraccount, the media platform of the call routing system receives 103 theincoming call made to the called number, when the called number is notreachable, for example, when the subscriber identity module (SIM) cardassociated with the called number is disconnected from the user device,or when the user device associated with the called number is in an outof coverage area, or when there is network congestion, or when the userdevice associated with the called number does not have access to atelecommunications network, or when the user device associated with thecalled number is switched off, or when the called number is busy, orwhen the incoming call to the called number is unanswered by the user,etc. As used herein, “calling party” refers to a user or a sender whooriginates a call or attempts to place a call to a called party deviceto communicate with the called party. Also, as used herein, “calledparty” refers to a user who is a recipient or an intended recipient of acall made by the calling party. When an incoming call is received, theincoming call routing server (ICRS) checks the database to determinewhether there is a call receiving client application (CRCA) that iscurrently available to receive the incoming call, and then sends aresponse to the media platform to route the incoming call to anavailable CRCA.

The media platform routes 104 the received incoming call to the callreceiving client application (CRCA) on one or more of the user devicesover the data network on detecting the availability of the CRCA on oneor more of the user devices over the data network, that is, on receivingthe response that the CRCA is available on one or more of the userdevices from the incoming call routing server (ICRS). In an embodiment,a carrier associated with each of the validated numbers of the userassigns a routing number, for example, a C number, to the call routingsystem for routing the received incoming call to the call routing systemwhen one of the validated numbers is not reachable. As used herein,“routing number” refers to a call forwarding number or a translatednumber assigned for a carrier that owns one or more numbers linked tothe user account. The routing number routes the incoming call to themedia platform of the call routing system. The function of the C numberis similar to a C number used for a call completion service and uses thesame conditional call forwarding capabilities of a global system formobile communications (GSM) network and a code division multiple access(CDMA) network as used for other call completion or voicemail and/ormissed call solutions. The media platform receives the incoming callmade to one of the numbers forwarded by the carrier via the assignedrouting number, and determines whether one of the numbers is linked tothe user account set up by the ICRS to route the incoming call to theCRCA on one or more user devices over the data network.

The incoming call routing server (ICRS) maintains a list of countriesand carriers that support the incoming call routing service implementedby the method disclosed herein, along with the routing number, forexample, the C number to be used for activating conditional callforwarding for routing incoming calls to the call routing system. When auser sets up the user account with a primary number, or adds a secondarynumber to the user account, the ICRS checks the database if the numberhas already activated conditional call forwarding for the incoming callrouting service, or for the voicemail, missed call, or voicemail with amissed call service being implemented by the ICRS. If the number is notalready activated for conditional call forwarding, the ICRS checks thedatabase to find the C number to be used for conditional call forwardingin the country and carrier of the number. If the C number is assignedand configured for that country and carrier, then the ICRS furtherdetermines if the C number is integrated with a service provisioningplatform of the carrier to send a command to activate conditional callforwarding. If the C number is integrated with the service provisioningplatform, then the ICRS sends the command for activating conditionalcall forwarding for that number to the service provisioning platform.The ICRS captures a status of success or failure of the command from theresponse received from the service provisioning platform and stores thestatus in the database, and also communicates the status to the callreceiving client application (CRCA) connected to that user account.

If the incoming call routing server (ICRS) is not integrated with theservice provisioning platform of the carrier, then the ICRS sends the Cnumber and the command to be used for activating conditional callforwarding to the call receiving client application (CRCA). The commandfor activating conditional call forwarding for numbers belonging to aglobal system for mobile communications (GSM) network is, for example,an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) command“**004*<C_Number>#” from the user device containing the subscriberidentity module (SIM) card associated with the user's number. As anotherexample, the command for activating conditional call forwarding fornumbers belonging to a code division multiple access (CDMA) network isto make a regular voice call to “*71<C_Number>”. Depending on thecapability of the user device on which the CRCA is installed, the CRCAexecutes the command to activate conditional call forwarding to the Cnumber on its own, or prompts the user to click on an action button on agraphical user interface (GUI) provided by the CRCA to initiate thecommand, or instructs the user to dial the command from the userdevice's dialer. A generic computer using a generic program cannot routethe received incoming call to the CRCA on one or more of the userdevices over the data network on detecting the availability of the CRCAon one or more of the user devices over the data network in accordancewith the method steps disclosed above.

In an embodiment, the media platform at the carrier's data center, thatis, the carrier media platform, routes the received incoming call to thecall receiving client application (CRCA) on one or more user devicesover the data network via the cloud media platform deployed in thedistributed cloud computing environment, when the incoming call is madeto a number associated with the carrier that does not permit direct datacommunication between servers in the secure data network of the carrierand the user devices. In this embodiment, the cloud media platformcommunicates with the carrier media platform over the carrier's securedata network, and routes the received incoming call to the CRCA on oneor more user devices over the public data network. In anotherembodiment, the media platform selects an optimum codec forcommunicating with the CRCA on one or more of the user devices based onavailable bandwidth between the media platform and the CRCA, andimplements transcoding for converting a codec used for communicationbetween a carrier's network component and the media platform to theoptimum codec used for communication between the media platform and theCRCA.

When the calling party calls one of the validated numbers of the userthat is not reachable, the carrier that owns the called number forwardsthe incoming call to the routing number. For example, a terminatingmobile switching center (MSC) that handles the incoming call to thecalled number that is not reachable, routes the incoming call to themedia platform via the routing number. The media platform queries theincoming call routing server (ICRS) to determine whether the callreceiving client application (CRCA) on one or more user devicesassociated with the called number is currently registered to receive theincoming call on the data network. The ICRS receives the query from themedia platform, checks the database of users to determine whether theCRCA on one or more user devices associated with the called number isregistered with the ICRS to receive the incoming call over the datanetwork, and transmits a response to the media platform. If the responsefrom the ICRS indicates that there are one or more user devices with theCRCA available to receive the incoming call for the called number, themedia platform routes the received incoming call to the registered CRCAon each of the user devices to allow the user to see and hear a ring forthe incoming call on the CRCA. As used herein, “registered CRCA” refersto the CRCA that is available on a user device based on connection ofthe CRCA to the data network and the user logging into the CRCA on theuser device. The user can answer the incoming call by accepting theincoming call on the CRCA. When the user answers the incoming call byaccepting the incoming call on the registered CRCA on one user device,the registered CRCA stops the ring on the remaining user devices.

If the user does not accept the call from any of the user devices wherethe user has the call receiving client application (CRCA) installed andregistered, for a preconfigured period of time, the media platformroutes the received incoming call to an alerting server, for example,the voicemail/missed call alert (MCA) server of the call routing systemand executes a call complete call flow. The call complete call flowcomprises a missed call notification, voicemail, etc. That is, thevoicemail/MCA server provides options to the calling party to record avoice message or hang up the incoming call to complete the call. If thecalling party records a voice message, the voicemail/MCA servertransmits a notification to the CRCA or a short message service (SMS)message to the user device to allow the user to call and to listen tothe voice message. If the calling party does not record a voice message,the voicemail/MCA server transmits a missed call notification into theCRCA or as an SMS message to the user device. Furthermore, when theincoming call routing server (ICRS) detects an unavailability of theCRCA on each of the user devices, the ICRS requests the media platformto route the received incoming call to the voicemail/MCA server. Byimplementing the method disclosed herein, a user can receive calls madeto multiple numbers associated with the user account into the CRCA overa data connection, for example, an internet protocol connection, whenthe calls cannot be delivered as the called numbers are unreachable.

The call routing system disclosed herein implements one or more specificcomputer programs for routing an incoming call made to one of multiplenumbers of a user, to the call receiving client application (CRCA)deployed on one or more of multiple user devices to which a user hasaccess, when the called number is not reachable. The call routing systemroutes the incoming call to the CRCA deployed on a user device using adata network, when the user device does not have access to a voicenetwork, for example, when the user device is out of network coverage,or when the user explicitly turns off a mobile network on the userdevice while roaming to avoid high roaming charges, etc., or when theuser does not have access to all of the user's multiple numbers, etc.,for making and receiving voice calls, but has a data network capabilityon the user device. The call routing system processes and transforms thereceived incoming call that is incomplete to a complete call by routingthe received incoming call to the CRCA on one or more user devices. Thecall routing system also transforms a codec used for communicationbetween the carrier's network component and the media platform to anoptimum codec selected for communication between the media platform andthe CRCA. The call routing system also processes and transforms thereceived incoming call into a missed call alert by forwarding thereceived incoming call to an alerting server when the CRCA is notavailable in one or more of the user devices or when the CRCA is notconnected to the data network.

The method disclosed herein improves the functionality of a computer andprovides an improvement in communication related technology related torouting an incoming call made to one of multiple numbers of a user, tothe call receiving client application (CRCA) deployed on one or more ofmultiple user devices as follows: On implementing the method disclosedherein, the incoming call routing server (ICRS) of the call routingsystem, in communication with the CRCA deployed on one or more of theuser devices, routes the incoming call to the CRCA. The call routingsystem processes the numbers received from the user, creates a useraccount, and maintains the user account in the database for each of theuser devices. The media platform in the call routing system receives theincoming call made to one of the numbers via the assigned routing numberand sends a query to the ICRS to determine registration of the CRCA onone or more of the user devices with the ICRS. Based on the responsefrom the ICRS, the media platform through the use of separate andautonomous computer programs processes the received incoming call madeto one of the user's numbers that is not reachable to determine theavailability of the CRCA and route the incoming call to the CRCAavailable on one or more of the user devices via the data network.

The focus of the method and the call routing system disclosed herein ison an improvement to communication technology and computerfunctionalities, and not on tasks for which a generic computer is usedin its ordinary capacity. Accordingly, the method and the call routingsystem disclosed herein are not directed to an abstract idea. Rather,the method and the call routing system disclosed herein are directed toa specific improvement to the way the processors in the call routingsystem and the user device operate, embodied in, for example, setting upa user account for the user, validating the numbers received from theuser to set up the user account, determining the availability of thecall receiving client application (CRCA) on one or more of multiple userdevices by detecting a connection of the CRCA to the data network anddetecting registration of the CRCA on one or more of the user devices,selecting an optimum codec for communicating with the CRCA on one ormore of the user devices, and routing the incoming call to the availableCRCA on one or more of the user devices over the data network.

In the method disclosed herein, the design and the flow of data andinteractions between a calling party device, network components of thecarrier, the call routing system, and the user devices that deploy thecall receiving client application (CRCA) are deliberate, designed, anddirected. The numbers received from the user to set up the user accountand the incoming call received from the calling party device areprocessed by the call routing system to steer the call routing systemtowards a finite set of predictable outcomes. The interactions betweenthe calling party device, the carrier's network components, the callrouting system, and the user devices that deploy the CRCA allow the callrouting system to route the received incoming call to the available CRCAvia the data network in the absence of a voice network. From the numbersprovided by the user, the call routing system, through the use ofseparate and autonomous computer programs, processes the numbers to setup the user account and maintain the database of user accountsassociated with all the user devices, and processes a query to route theincoming call to an available CRCA when one of the numbers is notreachable. To set up the user account for the user using one or more ofmultiple numbers of the user in communication with the CRCA deployed onone or more of multiple user devices, detect availability of the CRCA onthe user devices over the data network to accept the incoming call,receive the incoming call made to one of the numbers, when one of thenumbers is not reachable, and route the received incoming call to theavailable CRCA on one or more of the user devices over the data networkrequires four or more separate computer programs and subprograms, theexecution of which cannot be performed by a person using a genericcomputer with a generic program. The steps performed by the call routingsystem disclosed above are tangible, provide useful results, and are notabstract. The hardware and software implementation of the call routingsystem is an improvement in computer related and communicationtechnology.

FIG. 2A exemplarily illustrates a system 200 comprising the carriermedia platform 207, the carrier incoming call routing server (ICRS) 208,and the cloud ICRS 210 implemented in a distributed cloud computingenvironment, for routing an incoming call made to one of multiplenumbers of a user, to the call receiving client application (CRCA) 205 cdeployed on one or more of multiple user devices, herein referred to as“called party devices”, when one of the numbers being called is notreachable. The system 200 disclosed herein comprises the call routingsystem 206 in communication with a calling party device 201, calledparty devices 205 a and 205 b, and their associated network components202 and 204. The network components comprise a first network component202 associated with the calling party device 201 and a second networkcomponent 204 associated with the called party devices 205 a and 205 b.As used herein, the terms “first network component” and “second networkcomponent” refer, for example, to a mobile switching center (MSC), abase station subsystem (BSS), a radio access network (RAN), a telephoneexchange, a telephone switch, etc., serving the calling party device 201and the called party devices 205 a and 205 b respectively. The firstnetwork component 202 is, for example, an originating switch or anoriginating MSC associated with the calling party device 201. The secondnetwork component 204 is, for example, a terminating switch or aterminating MSC associated with the called party devices 205 a and 205b. The second network component 204 is either the same as the firstnetwork component 202 or one of multiple network components excludingthe first network component 202.

The call routing system 206 is accessible to the calling party device201 and the called party devices 205 a and 205 b, for example, through abroad spectrum of technologies and devices such as personal computerswith access to the internet, internet enabled cellular phones, tabletcomputing devices, etc. The first network component 202 is connected tothe second network component 204 via a telecommunications network 203.In an embodiment, the call routing system 206 is implemented as a systemof multiple servers, for example, the carrier media platform 207, thevoicemail/missed call alert (MCA) server 209, the carrier incoming callrouting server (ICRS) 208, and the cloud ICRS 210, that routes anincoming call made to one of multiple numbers of a user, to the callreceiving client application (CRCA) 205 c deployed on one or more calledparty devices 205 a and 205 b when one of the numbers is not reachable.The carrier media platform 207, the carrier ICRS 208, and thevoicemail/MCA server 209 are part of the carrier's data center. Thecarrier media platform 207, in communication with the voicemail/MCAserver 209, implements call completion. The voicemail/MCA server 209transmits a voicemail message or missed call notifications to thecalling party device 201 via the telecommunications network 203. Thecarrier media platform 207 communicates with the CRCA 205 c on thecalled party devices 205 a and 205 b over a public data network 212. Thecarrier media platform 207 routes the incoming call via the public datanetwork 212 to the called party device, for example, 205 a or 205 b onwhich the CRCA 205 c is deployed. The carrier media platform 207communicates with the mobile switching center (MSC) or a mobile softswitch (MSS) in the carrier over a protocol supported by the carrier.When the carrier media platform 207 directly connects with the CRCA 205c on the called party device 205 a or 205 b over the public data network212, the carrier media platform 207 communicates with the CRCA 205 c tobridge the incoming call received from the carrier with a voice overinternet protocol (VoIP) call with the CRCA 205 c.

Consider an example where calling party A using the calling party device201 attempts to call the called party device 205 b of called party B.The first network component 202, for example, the originating mobileswitching center (MSC) associated with the calling party device 201receives the call attempt to contact called party B from the callingparty device 201. The first network component 202 routes the receivedcall attempt to the second network component 204, for example, theterminating MSC, associated with called party B for establishing acommunications link between the calling party device 201 and the calledparty device 205 b over the telecommunications network 203. The secondnetwork component 204 routes the call to the called party device 205 b,which results in an unanswered or incomplete call attempt, for example,due to the called party device 205 b being in an out of coverage area,or due to the called party device 205 b being switched off, or due toaccess to the telecommunications network 203 being disabled on thecalled party device 205 b, etc. The second network component 204 thenredirects the unanswered call attempt to a fixed C number and routes theunanswered call attempt to the carrier media platform 207. The carriermedia platform 207 queries the carrier incoming call routing server(ICRS) 208 to determine whether the call receiving client application(CRCA) 205 c deployed on the called party device 205 a or 205 bassociated with the called party number has data connectivity or aconnection to the public data network 212, and whether the user haslogged into the CRCA 205 c on the called party device 205 a or 205 b.The carrier ICRS 208 receives the query from the carrier media platform207 about the number for an incoming call. The response to the query is,for example, “available with an address” or “not available”. If theresponse from the carrier ICRS 208 is “available”, the carrier mediaplatform 207 routes the incoming call to the same user device, that is,the called party device 205 b associated with the number, or a differentuser device, that is, the called party device 205 a associated with thenumber. In this example, the carrier media platform 207, incommunication with the carrier ICRS 208, determines that the calledparty device 205 a has a connection to the public data network 212 andthat the user has logged into the CRCA 205 c on the called party device205 a. The carrier media platform 207 then routes the incoming call tothe CRCA 205 c on the called party device 205 a. If the response fromthe carrier ICRS 208 is “not available”, the carrier media platform 207routes the incoming call to the voicemail/MCA server 209.

In an embodiment, the call routing system 206 is implemented in adistributed manner with the carrier incoming call routing server (ICRS)208 deployed inside the carrier's data center and the cloud ICRS 210deployed outside the carrier's data center in the distributed cloudcomputing environment, for routing the incoming call made to one ofmultiple numbers of the user, to the call receiving client application(CRCA) 205 c deployed on one or more called party devices 205 a and 205b when one of the numbers is not reachable. The cloud ICRS 210 isdeployed on a cloud service platform, for example, AWS® of AmazonTechnologies, Inc., or the Google® Cloud platform of Google Inc. In anembodiment, there is a single, central cloud ICRS 210 that communicateswith one or more carrier ICRSs 208 deployed in each carrier, where thecall routing functionality of the method disclosed herein is deployedinside the carrier's data center. The call routing system 206 isimplemented in a distributed manner with the cloud ICRS 210, one or morecarrier ICRSs 208, and one or more carrier media platforms 207. Thecloud ICRS 210 communicates with the carrier ICRS 208 over a secure datanetwork 211. The cloud ICRS 210 also communicates with the CRCA 205 cover data, that is, over the public data network 212.

The cloud incoming call routing server (ICRS) 210 acts as a relay or aproxy between the call receiving client application (CRCA) 205 c and thecarrier ICRS 208. The cloud ICRS 210 implements the following functionscomprising, for example, setting up the user account, maintaining acentral database of all the users of the incoming call routing service,validating one or more numbers of the user, and sending a validationcode request to the carrier ICRS 208, which in turn sends a shortmessage service (SMS) message or performs outbound dialing (OBD) to thenumber being validated. Sending the validation code request comprisessending a validation code through an SMS message or sending thevalidation code by OBD. The cloud ICRS 210 further sets the primarynumber for the user account, adds the additional numbers, links anddelinks the numbers to and from the user account, executes login andlogout of the CRCA 205 c deployed on one or more called party devices205 a and 205 b, registers the CRCA 205 c, deregisters the CRCA 205 c,updates a registration status in the database, and notifies the carrierICRS 208 to which the number is associated. The cloud ICRS 210 furtherdetects the availability and unavailability of the CRCA 205 c andnotifies the carrier ICRS 208. The cloud ICRS 210 also responds toqueries from the carrier ICRS 208. The carrier ICRS 208 executes andsends the validation code requests received from the cloud ICRS 210 tothe CRCA 205 c, by sending the short message service (SMS) message orperforming outbound dialing (OBD) to the number being validated. Thecarrier ICRS 208 receives registration and deregistration information ofthe CRCA 205 c and stores the received information in a local database.

FIG. 2B exemplarily illustrates an embodiment of the system 200 shown inFIG. 2A, further comprising the cloud media platform 213 implemented ina distributed cloud computing environment, for routing an incoming callmade to one of multiple numbers of a user, to the call receiving clientapplication (CRCA) 205 c deployed on one or more user devices, forexample, called party devices 205 a and 205 b when one of the numbersbeing called is not reachable. In this embodiment, the call routingsystem 206 optionally uses the cloud media platform 213 when there arerestrictions between the carrier's data center and the called partydevices 205 a and 205 b outside the data center. The system 200disclosed herein comprises the call routing system 206 in communicationwith the calling party device 201, the called party devices 205 a and205 b, and their associated network components 202 and 204 thatcommunicate with each other via the telecommunications network 203, asdisclosed in the detailed description of FIG. 2A. The call routingsystem 206 comprises the carrier media platform 207, the carrierincoming call routing server (ICRS) 208, and an alerting server, forexample, the voicemail/missed call alert (MCA) server 209. Furthermore,the call routing system 206 is implemented in a distributed mannercomprising the cloud ICRS 210 as disclosed in the detailed descriptionof FIG. 2A. The cloud ICRS 210 communicates with the CRCA 205 c over thepublic data network 212. When the carrier media platform 207 is deployedin the data center of a carrier that places restrictions on datacommunication between servers deployed inside the carrier's data centerand services and devices outside the data center, the call routingsystem 206 further comprises the cloud media platform 213 deployed on acloud service platform, for example, AWS® of Amazon Technologies, Inc.,or the Google® Cloud platform of Google Inc. In this embodiment, thecarrier media platform 207 is deployed inside the carrier's data centerand the cloud media platform 213 is deployed outside the carrier's datacenter in the distributed cloud computing environment for routing theincoming call made to one of multiple numbers of the user, to the CRCA205 c deployed on one or more called party devices 205 a and 205 b whenone of the numbers is not reachable. In an embodiment, there is asingle, central cloud media platform 213 that communicates with one ormore carrier media platforms 207 deployed in each carrier where the callrouting functionality of the method disclosed herein is deployed insidethe carrier's data center.

The cloud media platform 213 performs all the functions of the carriermedia platform 207 disclosed in the detailed description of FIG. 2A.When the carrier media platform 207 cannot directly communicate with thecall receiving client application (CRCA) 205 c over the public datanetwork 212, the carrier media platform 207 uses the cloud mediaplatform 213 as a relay to communicate with the CRCA 205 c deployed onone or more called party devices 205 a and 205 b. The communicationbetween the carrier media platform 207 and the cloud media platform 213is over the secure data network 211, whereas the communication betweenthe cloud media platform 213 and the CRCA 205 c is over the public datanetwork 212. Each carrier media platform 207 communicates directly withthe CRCA 205 c where a security policy of the carrier allows the directcommunication, or communicates with the CRCA 205 c over the public datanetwork 212 using the cloud media platform 213 as a relay where thecarrier's security policy does not permit direct communication with theCRCA 205 c.

FIG. 2C exemplarily illustrates an embodiment of the system 200comprising the carrier media platform 207, a voicemail/missed call alert(MCA) server 214 with incoming call routing functionality, and the cloudincoming call routing server (ICRS) 210 implemented in a distributedcloud computing environment, for routing an incoming call made to one ofmultiple numbers of a user, to the call receiving client application(CRCA) 205 c deployed on one or more user devices, for example, calledparty devices 205 a and 205 b when one of the numbers being called isnot reachable. The system 200 disclosed herein comprises the callrouting system 206 in communication with the calling party device 201,the called party devices 205 a and 205 b, and their associated networkcomponents 202 and 204 that communicate with each other via thetelecommunications network 203, as disclosed in the detailed descriptionof FIG. 2A. The call routing system 206 comprises the carrier mediaplatform 207 and an alerting server, for example, the voicemail/MCAserver 214. In this embodiment, the voicemail/MCA server 214 performsthe functions of the voicemail/MCA server 209 disclosed in the detaileddescription of FIG. 2A, and incorporates the functionality of thecarrier ICRS 208 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2A and as disclosed inthe detailed description of FIG. 2A.

In this embodiment, the voicemail/missed call alert (MCA) server 214with the incoming call routing functionality communicates with the cloudincoming call routing server (ICRS) 210 through the secure data network211. The cloud ICRS 210 communicates with the call receiving clientapplication (CRCA) 205 c on the called party devices 205 a and 205 bover the public data network 212. The carrier media platform 207 alsocommunicates with the CRCA 205 c on the called party devices 205 a and205 b over the public data network 212. The carrier media platform 207routes the incoming call to CRCA 205 c on the called party device 205 aor 205 b via the public data network 212 based on a response receivedfrom the carrier ICRS 208. The carrier media platform 207 queries thecarrier ICRS 208 to check whether the called party number is “available”to receive the incoming call on the CRCA 205 c that is currentlyregistered. If the CRCA 205 c is registered, then the carrier mediaplatform 207 communicates with the CRCA 205 c directly over the publicdata network 212. If the CRCA 205 c does not answer the incoming call,the carrier media platform 207 redirects the call to the voicemail/MCAserver 214. Further, if the response to the query from the carrier ICRS208 indicates that the CRCA 205 c is not registered, then the carriermedia platform 207 routes the call to the voicemail/MCA server 214.

FIG. 2D exemplarily illustrates an embodiment of the system 200 shown inFIG. 2C, further comprising the cloud media platform 213 implemented ina distributed cloud computing environment, for routing an incoming callmade to one of multiple numbers of a user, to the call receiving clientapplication (CRCA) 205 c deployed on one or more user devices, forexample, called party devices 205 a and 205 b when one of the numbersbeing called is not reachable. In this embodiment, the call routingsystem 206 optionally uses the cloud media platform 213 when there arerestrictions between the carrier's data center and user devices outsidethe data center. The system 200 disclosed herein comprises the callrouting system 206 in communication with the calling party device 201,the called party devices 205 a and 205 b, and their associated networkcomponents 202 and 204 that communicate with each other via thetelecommunications network 203, as disclosed in the detailed descriptionof FIG. 2A. In this embodiment, the call routing system 206 comprisesthe carrier media platform 207, the cloud incoming call routing server(ICRS) 210, and an alerting server, for example, the voicemail/missedcall alert (MCA) server 214 with incoming call routing functionality.The voicemail/MCA server 214 with incoming call routing functionalitycommunicates with the cloud ICRS 210 through the secure data network211. The cloud ICRS 210 communicates with the CRCA 205 c on the calledparty devices 205 a and 205 b over the public data network 212. Thecarrier media platform 207 communicates with the cloud media platform213 through the secure data network 211. In this embodiment, the cloudmedia platform 213 routes the incoming call to the called party device205 a or 205 b via the public data network 212. If the CRCA 205 c isregistered, then the carrier media platform 207 communicates with theCRCA 205 c using the cloud media platform 213 as a relay. If the CRCA205 c does not answer the incoming call, the cloud media platform 213redirects the call to the voicemail/MCA server 214 via the carrier mediaplatform 207. Further, if the response from the carrier ICRS 208 to thequery from the carrier media platform 207 indicates that the CRCA 205 cis not registered, then the cloud media platform 213 routes the call tothe voicemail/MCA server 214 via the carrier media platform 207. In thisembodiment, the carrier media platform 207 cannot communicate with thecalled party device 205 a or 205 b over the public data network 212.Therefore, the carrier media platform 207 only communicates with thecloud media platform 213 over the secure data network 211, with thecloud media platform 213 communicating with the CRCA 205 c on the calledparty device 205 a or 205 b over the public data network 212.

A generic device using a generic program cannot interfaceinstantaneously with the call receiving client application (CRCA) 205 cdeployed on one or more called party devices 205 a and 205 b for routingan incoming call made to one of multiple numbers of a user, to the CRCA205 c deployed on one or more called party devices 205 a and 205 b whenone of the numbers is not reachable. In the system 200 disclosed hereinas exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2D, the call routing system 206comprising the carrier media platform 207, the carrier incoming callrouting server (ICRS) 208, the cloud ICRS 210, the voicemail/MCA server209, and in different embodiments, the cloud media platform 213 and thevoicemail/MCA server 214, interfaces with the CRCA 205 c deployed on oneor more called party devices 205 a and 205 b for routing an incomingcall made to one of multiple numbers of a user, to the CRCA 205 cdeployed on one or more called party devices 205 a and 205 b when one ofthe numbers is not reachable, and therefore uses more than onespecifically programmed computing system.

As exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2D, the call routing system 206disclosed herein provides an improvement in communication technology byimplementing a distributed and hybrid architecture that offers aseamless incoming call routing service to users subscribed to multiplecarriers in multiple different countries that support differenttechnology and protocols for signaling and communication of audio, andto users with user devices, for example, called party devices 205 a and205 b that are manufactured by different vendors and that run differentoperating systems. The call routing system 206 utilizes different codecsfor transmission of audio and uses optimum codecs, with transcoding asneeded, to provide an improvement in the audio quality on the incomingcall based on the bandwidth available to the user devices. Thedistributed and hybrid architecture of the call routing system 206operates with carriers with different security policies that permit orrestrict access between servers inside the carrier's data center and theuser devices connected over the public data network 212.

FIG. 3A exemplarily illustrates communication between the carrierincoming call routing server (ICRS) 208, the cloud ICRS 210, the carriermedia platform 207, and a called party device 205 a for routing anincoming call made to one of multiple numbers of a user, to the callreceiving client application (CRCA) 205 c deployed on the called partydevice 205 a when one of the numbers being called is not reachable. Inan embodiment exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3A, the modules of theCRCA 205 c of the called party device 205 a communicate with the carriermedia platform 207 and the cloud ICRS 210. The CRCA 205 c for receivingincoming calls and missed calls is installed on the called party device205 a. The CRCA 205 c comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) 205 d,a sign up module 205 e, a number validation module 205 f, a login module205 g, a logout module 205 h, a primary number setting module 205 i, anadditional number linking module 205 j, and a secondary number delinkingmodule 205 k. The GUI 205 d allows the user to interact with the calledparty device 205 a and provide input to the CRCA 205 c on the calledparty device 205 a. The sign up module 205 e allows the user of thecalled party device 205 a to sign up the CRCA 205 c with the cloud ICRS210 by setting up a user account on receiving the numbers owned by theuser. The number validation module 205 f communicates with the carrierICRS 208 and the cloud ICRS 210 to allow the cloud ICRS 210 to validatethe numbers of the called party device 205 a through one or moreauthentication mechanisms as disclosed in the detailed description ofFIG. 1 . The login module 205 g and the logout module 205 h allow theuser to login to the CRCA 205 c and logout from the CRCA 205 crespectively. The primary number setting module 205 i sets a primarynumber for the user account. The additional number linking module 205 jlinks additional numbers owned by the user to the same user account. Thesecondary number delinking module 205 k delinks each of the linkedadditional numbers from the user account.

The cloud incoming call routing server (ICRS) 210 communicates with thecall receiving client application (CRCA) 205 c on the called partydevice 205 a over the public data network 212 as exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 2A. The CRCA 205 c communicates with the cloud ICRS 210 toindicate the following actions, for example, validation, sign up, login,logout, register, and deregister using the modules 205 f, 205 e, 205 g,205 h, 205 i, 205 j, and 205 k of the CRCA 205 c disclosed above. Thecloud ICRS 210 receives sign up, validation, login, logout, register,and deregister commands from the CRCA 205 c via the public data network212. The carrier media platform 207 communicates with the CRCA 205 cusing one of multiple voice over internet protocols (VoIPs). In anembodiment, the carrier media platform 207 communicates with CRCA 205 cusing inter-asterisk eXchange version 2 (IAX2) protocol for bothsignaling and media. In another embodiment, the carrier media platform207 communicates with the CRCA 205 c using a session initiation protocol(SIP) for signaling and a real-time transport protocol (RTP) inconjunction with a real-time transport control protocol (RTCP) formedia. To use the SIP in networks where there are barriers between thecarrier media platform 207 and the CRCA 205 c due to network addresstranslators (NATs) or firewalls, the carrier media platform 207 and theCRCA 205 c employ the interactive connectivity establishment (ICE)protocol. The ICE protocol in turn uses protocols comprising, forexample, session transversal utilities for NAT (STUN) and traversalusing relays around NAT (TURN).

The cloud incoming call routing server (ICRS) 210 communicates with thecarrier ICRS 208 over the secure data network 211 as exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 2A. The carrier ICRS 208 further communicates withthe carrier media platform 207. The cloud ICRS 210 relays queries andvalidation, register, and deregister commands to the carrier ICRS 208.Given the heterogeneous nature of different telecom carriers' networks,the carrier media platform 207 and the carrier ICRS 208 communicate withthe carrier's mobile switching center (MSC) or a mobile soft switch(MSS) using one of multiple protocols. In an embodiment, the carriermedia platform 207 uses session initiation protocol (SIP) for signalingand real-time transport protocol (RTP) in conjunction with real-timetransport control protocol (RTCP) for media to communicate with the MSC.In another embodiment, the carrier media platform 207 communicates withthe MSC using an integrated services digital network (ISDN) user part(ISUP) over a signaling system no. 7 (SS7) for signaling and timedivision multiplexing (TDM) channels or synchronous digital hierarchy(SDH) channels, for example, synchronous transport module level-1(STM-1) for media. The TDM channels comprise, for example, T-carrierchannels such as T1, T3, etc., E-carrier channels such as E1, E2, etc.In another embodiment, the carrier media platform 207 communicates withthe MSC using the ISUP over SIGTRAN in place of the ISUP over SS7 forsignaling, with protocols, for example, E1, T1, and STM-1 for media.“SIGTRAN” derived from signaling transport is a telephony protocol usedto transport SS7 signals over the internet. SIGTRAN definesspecifications for protocols that provide a reliable datagram serviceand user layer adaptations for SS7 and ISDN communication protocols.

In an embodiment, the carrier media platform 207 comprises a datanetwork detection module 207 a, a codec module 207 b, a voice overinternet protocol (VoIP) data exchange module 207 c, an incoming callregistration module 207 d, an incoming call notification module 207 e, adevice ringing module 207 f, a call rejection module 207 g, a callconnect module 207 h, and a call termination module 207 i. The datanetwork detection module 207 a detects the availability of the publicdata network 212 for communicating with the call receiving clientapplication (CRCA) 205 c of the called party device 205 a exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 2A, to route the incoming call. The codec module 207b compresses and decompresses digital audio data in accordance with apredefined audio file streaming coding format. The codec module 207 bselects an optimum codec for communicating with the CRCA 205 c on thecalled party device 205 a based on available bandwidth between thecarrier media platform 207 and the CRCA 205 c. The codec module 207 balso implements transcoding for converting a codec used forcommunication between a network component, for example, the carrier'smobile switching center (MSC) or the mobile soft switch (MSS) and thecarrier media platform 207 to the optimum codec used for communicationbetween the carrier media platform 207 and the CRCA 205 c.

The carrier media platform 207 supports multiple codecs comprising, forexample, G.711a, G.711u, G.729, SILK® of Skype Corporation, and the Opusopen standard codec, for communicating with the carrier's mobileswitching center (MSC) or the mobile soft switch (MSS). During a sessionestablishment phase, also referred as a call connection phase, the codecmodule 207 b of the carrier media platform 207 negotiates the codec tobe used for an incoming call based on a common set of codecs supportedby the carrier media platform 207 and the MSC/MSS. The codec module 207b uses the most optimal codec that provides the audio quality requiredfor the call. Similarly, the carrier media platform 207 supportsmultiple codecs comprising, for example, G.711a, G.711u, G.729, SILK®,and Opus, for communicating with the call receiving client application(CRCA) 205 c. During the session establishment phase, the codec module207 b negotiates the codec to be used for an incoming call based on thecommon set of codecs supported by the carrier media platform 207 and theCRCA 205 c. The codec module 207 b uses the codec that uses databandwidth less than or equal to the available bandwidth while providingan improvement in the audio quality for the call. In an embodiment, thecodec module 207 b uses a different codec for communication between thecarrier media platform 207 and the CRCA 205 c from the codec usedbetween the carrier media platform 207 and the MSC/MSS. In thisembodiment, the codec module 207 b implements transcoding between thetwo codecs used for communicating with the MSC/MSS and with the CRCA 205c.

The voice over internet protocol (VoIP) data exchange module 207 cexchanges data over VoIP between the carrier media platform 207 and thecall receiving client application (CRCA) 205 c on the called partydevice 205 a. The incoming call registration module 207 d receives theincoming call made to one of the numbers, when that number is notreachable. The incoming call registration module 207 d receives theincoming call made to one of the numbers forwarded by the carrier via arouting number, when that number is not reachable, and determineswhether one of the numbers is linked to the user account set up by thecloud incoming call routing server (ICRS) 210 to route the incoming callto the CRCA 205 c on the calling party device 205 a over the public datanetwork 212. The incoming call notification module 207 e transmits anotification of the incoming call to the CRCA 205 c on the called partydevice 205 a. The device ringing module 207 f monitors the progress ofthe incoming call to receive an indication of the call successfullyreaching the CRCA 205 c, for example, a ringtone of the called partydevice 205 a that indicates that the called party device 205 a isringing, etc. The call rejection module 207 g detects rejection of theincoming call by the user of the called party device 205 a. The callconnect module 207 h detects connection of the incoming call to thecalled party device 205 a when the user accepts the incoming call. Thecall termination module 207 i terminates the incoming call if theincoming call is not answered for a preconfigured period of time.

FIG. 3B exemplarily illustrates an embodiment showing communicationbetween the carrier incoming call routing server (ICRS) 208, the cloudICRS 210, the carrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform 213,and a called party device 205 a for routing an incoming call made to oneof multiple numbers of a user, to the call receiving client application(CRCA) 205 c deployed on the called party device 205 a when one of thenumbers being called is not reachable. The cloud ICRS 210 communicateswith the CRCA 205 c on the called party device 205 a over the publicdata network 212 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2A and as disclosed inthe detailed description of FIG. 3A. The cloud ICRS 210 furthercommunicates with the carrier ICRS 208 over the secure data network 211exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2A and as disclosed in the detaileddescription of FIG. 3A. The carrier ICRS 208 communicates with thecarrier media platform 207. In this embodiment, the carrier mediaplatform 207 communicates with the cloud media platform 213 over thesecure data network 211. The carrier media platform 207 communicateswith the cloud media platform 213 that functions as a relay andcommunicates with the CRCA 205 c on the called party device 205 a whenthe carrier media platform 207 cannot communicate directly with the CRCA205 c. In this embodiment, the cloud media platform 213 comprises a datanetwork detection module 213 a, a codec module 213 b, a voice overinternet protocol (VoIP) data exchange module 213 c, an incoming callregistration module 213 d, an incoming call notification module 213 e, adevice ringing module 213 f, a call rejection module 213 g, a callconnect module 213 h, and a call termination module 213 i. The functionsof the modules 213 a, 213 b, 213 c, 213 d, 213 e, 213 f, 213 g, 213 h,and 213 i of the cloud media platform 213 is similar to the functions ofthe modules 207 a, 207 b, 207 c, 207 d, 207 e, 207 f, 207 g, 207 h, and207 i of the carrier media platform 207 respectively, disclosed in thedetailed description of FIG. 3A. The CRCA 205 c comprising the graphicaluser interface (GUI) 205 d, the sign up module 205 e, the numbervalidation module 205 f, the login module 205 g, the logout module 205h, the primary number setting module 205 i, the additional numberlinking module 205 j, and the secondary number delinking module 205 kdisclosed in the detailed description of FIG. 3A, communicates with thecloud media platform 213 and the cloud ICRS 210 via the public datanetwork 212.

In this embodiment where the carrier places restrictions on datacommunication between servers deployed inside the carrier's data centerand services and devices outside the data center, the carrier mediaplatform 207 and the cloud media platform 213 communicate with the CRCA205 c using one of multiple voice over internet protocols (VoIPs). In anembodiment, the carrier media platform 207 and the cloud media platform213 communicate with the CRCA 205 c using an inter-asterisk eXchangeVersion 2 (IAX2) protocol for both signaling and media. In anotherembodiment, the carrier media platform 207 and the cloud media platform213 communicate with the CRCA 205 c using a session initiation protocol(SIP) for signaling and a real-time transport protocol (RTP) inconjunction with a real-time transport control protocol (RTCP) formedia. To use the SIP in networks where there are barriers between thecloud media platform 213 and the CRCA 205 c due to network addresstranslators (NATs) or firewalls, the cloud media platform 213 and theCRCA 205 c employ the interactive connectivity establishment (ICE)protocol disclosed in the detailed description of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A exemplarily illustrates modules of the cloud incoming callrouting server (ICRS) 210 used for routing an incoming call made to oneof multiple numbers of a user, to the call receiving client application(CRCA) 205 c deployed on one or more user devices, for example, thecalled party devices 205 a and 205 b exemplarily illustrated in FIGS.2A-2B, when one of the numbers being called is not reachable. In anembodiment, the cloud ICRS 210 comprises a user sign up processingmodule 210 a, a validation module 210 b, a login processing module 210d, a logout processing module 210 e, a primary number setting module 210f, an additional number linking module 210 g, a number delinking module210 h, a query processing module 210 i, a client registration module 210j, a client application availability detection module 210 k, and a cloudICRS database 210 n. The user sign up processing module 210 a sets up auser account for the user using one or more of multiple numbers of theuser in communication with the CRCA 205 c deployed on one or more userdevices. The user sign up processing module 210 a sets a password forlogging into the CRCA 205 c deployed on one or more user devices withone or more numbers of the user. The user sign up processing module 210a receives a request from user to sign up with the cloud ICRS 210 fromone of the user devices and processes the request.

The validation module 210 b comprises a number validation module 210 cfor validating one or more numbers received from the user, through oneor more of the authentication mechanisms disclosed in the detaileddescription of FIG. 1 . The validation module 210 b in the cloudincoming call routing server (ICRS) 210, in communication with avalidation module 208 a in the carrier ICRS 208 exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 4B, validates the numbers of the user through one or more ofmultiple authentication mechanisms. The number validation module 210 cin the cloud ICRS 210 transmits a validation code request to thevalidation module 208 a of the carrier ICRS 208 over the secure datanetwork 211 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2B. In an embodiment,the validation module 208 a of the carrier ICRS 208 comprises avalidation code communication module 208 b for transmitting a validationcode to each of the numbers of the user to be validated by thevalidation module 210 b of the cloud ICRS 210, for example, via a shortmessage service (SMS) message or an outbound dialing call initiated bythe validation code communication module 208 b. The number validationmodule 210 c in the cloud ICRS 210 receives an input code captured bythe call receiving client application (CRCA) 205 c from one of the userdevices and the validation code from the validation code communicationmodule 208 b in the carrier ICRS 208, and matches the received inputcode with the validation code transmitted by the validation codecommunication module 208 b of the carrier ICRS 208. In anotherembodiment, the validation code communication module 208 b in thecarrier ICRS 208 sends a message to each of the numbers of the user tobe validated, and the number validation module 210 c in the cloud ICRS210 receives a confirmation from the CRCA 205 c that the sent message isreceived on one of the user devices indicating that one of the userdevices contains a subscriber identity module with one of the numbers ofthe user to be validated. In another embodiment, the number validationmodule 210 c in the cloud ICRS 210 receives a message sent from the CRCA205 c on one of the user devices to a predetermined number and matches asource number of the message with one of the numbers of the user to bevalidated. In another embodiment, the number validation module 210 c inthe cloud ICRS 210 receives a missed call placed by the CRCA 205 c onone of the user devices to a predefined number and matches a sourcenumber of the missed call with one of the numbers of the user to bevalidated.

The login processing module 210 d and the logout processing module 210 eprocess a login request and a logout request respectively, from one ofthe user devices. The login processing module 210 d communicates withthe login module 205 g of the call receiving client application (CRCA)205 c exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3A, to process a login request ofthe user to login to the CRCA 205 c on the called party device 205 aexemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3A, and register the CRCA 205 c. Thelogout processing module 210 e communicates with the logout module 205 hof the CRCA 205 c exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3A, to process alogout request of the user to logout of the CRCA 205 c on the calledparty device 205 a and deregister the CRCA 205 c. The primary numbersetting module 210 f, in communication with the primary number settingmodule 205 i of the CRCA 205 c exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3B,sets the primary number for the user account and updates the primarynumber with a new number before delinking the first set primary number.The additional number linking module 210 g, in communication with theadditional number linking module 205 j of the CRCA 205 c exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 3A-3B, links additional numbers of the user to thesame user account. The number delinking module 210 h, in communicationwith the secondary number delinking module 205 k of the CRCA 205 cexemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3B, delinks one or more numbers ofthe user from the user account. The number delinking module 210 h alsodelinks the primary number from the user account only after assigning anew number as the primary number for the user account.

The query processing module 210 i receives, processes, and relaysqueries from the call receiving client application (CRCA) 205 c deployedon one or more user devices to the carrier incoming call routing server(ICRS) 208. The query processing module 210 i also responds to queriesfrom the carrier ICRS 208. The client registration module 210 jcommunicates with the login processing module 210 d to determine loginand registration of the CRCA 205 c. The client registration module 210j, in communication with the login processing module 210 d, registersthe CRCA 205 c deployed on one or more user devices. The clientregistration module 210 j processes the client registration request andadds user devices with the registered CRCA 205 c and the registered oneor more numbers to the cloud ICRS database 210 n. The clientregistration module 210 j also communicates with the logout processingmodule 210 e to determine logout and deregistration of the CRCA 205 c.The client registration module 210 j processes the client deregistrationrequest from the user. The client registration module 210 j removes auser device with a deregistered CRCA 205 c from the cloud ICRS database210 n. The client registration module 210 j updates the user deviceswith the registered CRCA 205 c and the associated numbers in the cloudICRS database 210 n and invokes the user account when the user adds anew number or delinks a number from the user account.

The client application availability detection module 210 k detectsavailability of the call receiving client application (CRCA) 205 c onone or more user devices over the public data network 212 to accept anincoming call. In an embodiment, the client application availabilitydetection module 210 k comprises a data network connection detectionmodule 210 l and a client registration detection module 210 m. The datanetwork connection detection module 210 l detects a connection of theCRCA 205 c to the public data network 212. The client registrationdetection module 210 m, in communication with the client registrationmodule 210 j, detects registration of the CRCA 205 c on one or more userdevices, and deregistration of the CRCA 205 c on one or more userdevices. The client registration detection module 210 m detects a userdevice with a deregistered CRCA 205 c. In an embodiment, the clientregistration module 210 j stores a registration status of the CRCA 205 con one or more user devices in the cloud ICRS database 210 n. Theregistration status indicates whether the user devices have dataconnectivity or a connection to the public data network 212, and whetherthe user has logged into the CRCA 205 c on the user devices. The clientregistration module 210 j also transmits the registration status of theCRCA 205 c on one or more user devices associated with a called numberto the carrier ICRS 208.

FIG. 4B exemplarily illustrates modules of the carrier incoming callrouting server (ICRS) 208 used for routing an incoming call made to oneof multiple numbers of a user, to the call receiving client application(CRCA) 205 c deployed on one or more user devices when one of thenumbers being called is not reachable. The carrier ICRS 208 comprisesthe validation module 208 a, a query processing module 208 c, a clientregistration module 208 d, and a carrier ICRS database 208 e. Thevalidation module 208 a in the carrier ICRS 208 comprises the validationcode communication module 208 b for sending a validation code, forexample, by a short message service (SMS) or by outbound dialing (OBD)or by an interactive voice response (IVR) to the CRCA 205 c deployed onone or more user devices to allow the number validation module 210 c inthe cloud ICRS 210 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 4A, to validate thenumbers of the user. The validation code communication module 208 b alsosends the validation code to the cloud ICRS 210 to allow the numbervalidation module 210 c in the cloud ICRS 210 to match the validationcode with the input code sent by the CRCA 205 c on one or more userdevices to the carrier ICRS 208. The query processing module 208 cresponds to queries from the carrier media platform 207, and if requiredsends the queries to the cloud ICRS 210. The query processing module 208c receives and processes the queries from the carrier media platform 207on whether the CRCA 205 c is registered on one or more user devices. Theclient registration module 208 d in the carrier ICRS 208 receives theregistration status of the CRCA 205 c on one or more user devicesassociated with a called number from the client registration module 210j of the cloud ICRS 210 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 4A, and storesthe registration status in the carrier ICRS database 208 e. The clientregistration module 208 d in the carrier ICRS 208 also receivesregistration information and deregistration information from the clientregistration module 210 j in the cloud ICRS 210 and stores theregistration information and the deregistration information in thecarrier ICRS database 208 e. The query processing module 208 c queriesthe carrier ICRS database 208 e and sends a response, for example,“available with an address” or “not available” to the carrier mediaplatform 207. In addition to the registration information and thederegistration information, the carrier ICRS database 208 e stores useraccounts associated with one or more user devices and one or morenumbers of the user associated with each of the user accounts.

FIG. 5A exemplarily illustrates communication between the carrierincoming call routing server (ICRS) 208 and the carrier media platform207 for routing an incoming call made to one of multiple numbers of auser, to the call receiving client application (CRCA) 205 c deployed onone or more user devices, when one of the numbers being called is notreachable. In an embodiment, the carrier media platform 207 comprises anincoming missed call processing module 207 j, a number extraction module207 k, a query processing module 207 l, a response processing module 207m, a call routing module 207 n, the call connect module 207 h, the codecmodule 207 b, the voice over internet protocol (VoIP) data exchangemodule 207 c, and the call termination module 207 i. The carrier mediaplatform 207 queries and receives responses from the carrier ICRS 208.The incoming missed call processing module 207 j processes the incomingmissed call for routing to an available CRCA 205 c. The numberextraction module 207 k extracts the number of the calling party and theuser's number, that is, the called party number. The query processingmodule 207 l queries the carrier ICRS 208 and the response processingmodule 207 m processes responses from the carrier ICRS 208 as disclosedin the detailed description of FIG. 2A. The query processing module 207l queries the carrier ICRS 208 to determine availability of the CRCA 205c deployed on one or more user devices associated with the called partynumber, that is, to determine whether the CRCA 205 c deployed on one ormore user devices has data connectivity or a connection to the publicdata network 212, and whether the user has logged into the CRCA 205 c onone or more user devices. The response processing module 207 m receivesand processes the response, for example, “available with an address” or“not available” received from the carrier ICRS 208.

The call routing module 207 n routes the incoming call to the callreceiving client application (CRCA) 205 c on one or more user devicesover the public data network 212 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2A, ondetecting the availability of the CRCA 205 c on one or more user devicesover the public data network 212. The call routing module 207 n alsoroutes the incoming call to the voicemail/missed call alert (MCA) server209 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2A, if the incoming call isunanswered for a predetermined period of time by any of the userdevices. The call routing module 207 n also routes the received incomingcall to the voicemail/MCA server 209 if the incoming call is notaccepted for a preconfigured period of time from any of one or more userdevices. The call routing module 207 n also routes the received incomingcall to the voicemail/MCA server 209 on detecting an unavailability ofthe CRCA 205 c on each of the user devices. The response processingmodule 207 m processes the response from the CRCA 205 c. The callconnect module 207 h, the codec module 207 b, the voice over internetprotocol (VoIP) data exchange module 207 c, and the call terminationmodule 207 i performs the functions disclosed in the detaileddescription of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 5B exemplarily illustrates communication between the carrierincoming call routing server (ICRS) 208, the carrier media platform 207,and the cloud media platform 213 for routing an incoming call made toone of multiple numbers of a user, to the call receiving clientapplication (CRCA) 205 c deployed on one or more of multiple userdevices when one of the numbers being called is not reachable. Thecarrier media platform 207 queries the carrier ICRS 208 regardingregistration of the CRCA 205 c deployed on one or more user devices andreceives and processes responses from the carrier ICRS 208 as disclosedin the detailed description of FIG. 5A. The carrier media platform 207communicates with the cloud media platform 213 via the secure datanetwork 211 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2B. In an embodiment, thecloud media platform 213 comprises an incoming missed call processingmodule 213 j, a number extraction module 213 k, a query processingmodule 213 l, a response processing module 213 m, a call routing module213 n, the call connect module 213 h, the codec module 213 b, the voiceover internet protocol (VoIP) data exchange module 213 c, and the calltermination module 213 i. The functions of the modules 213 j, 213 k, 213l, 213 m, 213 n, 213 h, 213 b, 213 c, and 213 i of the cloud mediaplatform 213 is similar to the functions of the modules 207 j, 207 k,207 l, 207 m, 207 n, 207 h, 207 b, 207 c, and 207 i of the carrier mediaplatform 207 respectively, as disclosed in the detailed description ofFIG. 5A. When the modules 207 j, 207 k, 207 l, 207 m, 207 n, 207 h, 207b, 207 c, and 207 i of the carrier media platform 207 cannot directlycommunicate with the CRCA 205 c over a public data network 212exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2B, the carrier media platform 207 usesthe modules 213 j, 213 k, 213 l, 213 m, 213 n, 213 h, 213 b, 213 c, and213 i of the cloud media platform 213 as a relay to communicate with theCRCA 205 c. Based on the response received from the carrier ICRS 208,the call routing module 213 n of the cloud media platform 213 routes theincoming call to the CRCA 205 c deployed on one or more user devicesover the public data network 212, when the incoming call is made to oneof the numbers associated with a carrier that does not permit directdata communication between servers in the public data network 212 of thecarrier and the user devices.

FIGS. 6A-6B exemplarily illustrates an architectural diagram of thesystem 200 for routing an incoming call made to one of multiple numbersof a user, to the call receiving client application (CRCA) 205 cdeployed on one or more of multiple user devices, for example, a userdevice 255, when one of the numbers being called is not reachable. Thesystem 200 disclosed herein comprises the call routing system 206 incommunication with the CRCA 205 c on the user device 255 via a publicdata network 212, for example, a short range network or a long rangenetwork. The user device 255 is an electronic device, for example, oneof a personal computer, a tablet computing device, a mobile computer, amobile phone, a smartphone, a portable computing device, a personaldigital assistant, a laptop, a wearable computing device such as theGoogle Glass® of Google Inc., the Apple Watch® of Apple Inc., etc., atouch centric device, a client device, a portable electronic device, anetwork enabled computing device, an interactive network enabledcommunication device, a gaming device, an image capture device, anyother suitable computing equipment, combinations of multiple pieces ofcomputing equipment, etc. In an embodiment, the user device 255 is ahybrid computing device that combines the functionality of multipledevices. Examples of a hybrid computing device comprise a cellulartelephone that includes a media player functionality, a gaming devicethat includes a wireless communications capability, a cellular telephonethat includes game and multimedia functions, and a portable device thatreceives electronic mail (email), supports mobile telephone calls, has amedia player functionality, and supports web browsing. In an embodiment,computing equipment is used to implement applications such as mediaplayback applications, for example, a web browser, an electronic mail(email) application, a calendar application, etc.

The user device 255 and other user devices owned by the user anddeploying the call receiving client application (CRCA) 205 c run asingle operating system or different operating systems. The user device255 and other user devices are manufactured by a single vendor ordifferent vendors. In an embodiment, the call routing system 206comprises the carrier media platform 207, the carrier incoming callrouting server (ICRS) 208, the cloud ICRS 210, the alerting server, forexample, the voicemail/missed call alert (MCA) server 209, and in anembodiment, the cloud media platform 213 as disclosed in the detaileddescription of FIGS. 2A-2B. In another embodiment, the carrier ICRS 208and the voicemail/MCA server 209 are combined into a singlevoicemail/MCA server 214 with incoming call routing functionality asdisclosed in the detailed description of FIGS. 2C-2D.

The user device 255, the carrier incoming call routing server (ICRS)208, the cloud ICRS 210, the carrier media platform 207, the cloud mediaplatform 213, and the voicemail/missed call alert (MCA) server 209 arecomputer systems that are programmable using high level computerprogramming languages. In an embodiment, the call receiving clientapplication (CRCA) 205 c is implemented on the user device 255 usingprogrammed and purposeful hardware. As exemplarily illustrated in FIGS.6A-6B, the user device 255, the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS 210,the carrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform 213, and thevoicemail/MCA server 209 comprise non-transitory computer readablestorage media, for example, memory units 250, 230, 236, 216, 242, and223 respectively, for storing program instructions, applications, anddata. As used herein, “non-transitory computer readable storage media”refer to all computer readable media, for example, non-volatile media,volatile media, and transmission media, except for a transitory,propagating signal. Non-volatile media comprise, for example, solidstate drives, optical discs or magnetic disks, and other persistentmemory volatile media including a dynamic random access memory (DRAM),which typically constitute a main memory. Volatile media comprise, forexample, a register memory, a processor cache, a random access memory(RAM), etc. Transmission media comprise, for example, coaxial cables,copper wire, fiber optic cables, modems, etc., including wires thatconstitute a system bus coupled to a processor, for example, 248, or229, or 235, or 215, or 241, or 222.

The call receiving client application (CRCA) 205 c and a client database251 are installed and stored in the memory unit 250 of the user device255. The memory unit 250 of the user device 255 stores computer programinstructions defined by modules, for example, 205 e, 205 f, 205 g, 205h, 205 i, 205 j, 205 k, etc., of the CRCA 205 c exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 3A. Similarly, the memory unit 230 of the carrier incoming callrouting server (ICRS) 208 stores computer program instructions definedby carrier ICRS modules 231, for example, 208 a, 208 b, 208 c, 208 d,etc., of the carrier ICRS 208 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 4B; thememory unit 236 of the cloud ICRS 210 stores computer programinstructions defined by cloud ICRS modules 237, for example, 210 a, 210b, 210 c, 210 d, 210 e, 210 f, 210 g, 210 h, 210 i, 210 j, 210 k, 210 l,210 m, etc., of the cloud ICRS 210 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 4A;the memory unit 216 of the carrier media platform 207 stores computerprogram instructions defined by carrier media platform (MP) modules 217,for example, 207 a, 207 b, 207 c, 207 d, 207 e, 207 f, 207 g, 207 h, 207i, 207 j, 207 k, 207 l, 207 m, 207 n, etc., of the carrier mediaplatform 207 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. 5A; the memoryunit 242 of the cloud media platform 213 stores computer programinstructions defined by cloud media platform (MP) modules 243, forexample, 213 a, 213 b, 213 c, 213 d, 213 e, 213 f, 213 g, 213 h, 213 i,213 j, 213 k, 213 l, 213 m, 213 n, etc., of the cloud media platform 213exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3B and FIG. 5B; and the memory unit 223of the voicemail/missed call alert (MCA) server 209 stores computerprogram instructions defined by a missed call alert notification module224 of the voicemail/MCA server 209. The memory units 250, 230, 236,216, 242, and 223 of the user device 255, the carrier ICRS 208, thecloud ICRS 210, the carrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform213, and the voicemail/MCA server 209 respectively, are, for example,random access memories (RAMs) or other types of dynamic storage devicesthat store information and instructions for execution by the processors248, 229, 235, 215, 241, and 222 of the user device 255, the carrierICRS 208, the cloud ICRS 210, the carrier media platform 207, the cloudmedia platform 213, and the voicemail/MCA server 209 respectively. Thememory units 250, 230, 236, 216, 242, and 223 also store temporaryvariables and other intermediate information used during execution ofthe instructions by the processors 248, 229, 235, 215, 241, and 222respectively. The user device 255, the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS210, the carrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform 213, andthe voicemail/MCA server 209, each further comprises a read only memory(ROM) or another type of static storage device that stores staticinformation and instructions for the processors 248, 229, 235, 215, 241,and 222 respectively.

The processors 248, 229, 235, 215, 241, and 222 are communicativelycoupled to the memory units 250, 230, 236, 216, 242, and 223 of the userdevice 255, the carrier incoming call routing server (ICRS) 208, thecloud ICRS 210, the carrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform213, and the voicemail/missed call alert (MCA) server 209 respectively.The processor 248 of the user device 255 executes computer programinstructions defined by the call receiving client application (CRCA) 205c. The processor 229 of the carrier incoming call routing server (ICRS)208 executes computer program instructions defined by the carrier ICRSmodules 231. The processor 235 of the cloud ICRS 210 executes computerprogram instructions defined by the cloud ICRS modules 237. Theprocessor 215 of the carrier media platform 207 executes computerprogram instructions defined by the carrier media platform (MP) modules217. The processor 241 of the cloud media platform 213 executes computerprogram instructions defined by the cloud media platform (MP) modules243. The processor 222 of the voicemail/MCA server 209 executes computerprogram instructions defined by the missed call alert notificationmodule 224 of the voicemail/MCA server 209. The processors 248, 229,235, 215, 241, and 222 of the user device 255, the carrier ICRS 208, thecloud ICRS 210, the carrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform213, and the voicemail/MCA server 209 respectively, refer to any one ormore microprocessors, central processing unit (CPU) devices, finitestate machines, computers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors,logic, a logic device, an user circuit, an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), achip, etc., or any combination thereof, capable of executing computerprograms or a series of commands, instructions, or state transitions. Inan embodiment, each of the processors 248, 229, 235, 215, 241, and 222is implemented as a processor set comprising, for example, a programmedmicroprocessor and a math or graphics co-processor. The processors 248,229, 235, 215, 241, and 222 are selected, for example, from the Intel®processors such as the Itanium® microprocessor or the Pentium®processors, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD®) processors such as the Athlon®processor, UltraSPARC® processors, microSPARC® processors, Hp®processors, International Business Machines (IBM®) processors such asthe PowerPC® microprocessor, the MIPS® reduced instruction set computer(RISC) processor of MIPS Technologies, Inc., RISC based computerprocessors of ARM Holdings, Motorola® processors, Qualcomm® processors,etc. The system 200 disclosed herein is not limited to employing theprocessors 248, 229, 235, 215, 241, and 222. In an embodiment, thesystem 200 employs controllers or microcontrollers.

As exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6B, the user device 255, thecarrier incoming call routing server (ICRS) 208, the cloud ICRS 210, thecarrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform 213, and thevoicemail/missed call alert (MCA) server 209 further comprise data buses252, 232, 238, 219, 245, and 226, network interfaces 253, 233, 239, 220,246, and 227, and common modules 254, 234, 240, 221, 247, and 228respectively, where the common modules 254, 234, 240, 221, 247, and 228comprise input/output (I/O) controllers, input devices, output devices,fixed media drives such as hard drives, removable media drives forreceiving removable media, etc. The data bus 252 of the user device 255permits communication between the modules, for example, 248, 249, 250,253, 254, etc., of the user device 255. The data bus 232 of the carrierICRS 208 permits communication between the modules, for example, 229,230, 233, 234, etc., of the carrier ICRS 208. The data bus 238 of thecloud ICRS 210 permits communication between the modules, for example,235, 236, 239, 240, etc., of the cloud ICRS 210. The data bus 219 of thecarrier media platform 207 permits communication between the modules,for example, 215, 216, 220, 221, etc., of the carrier media platform207. The data bus 245 of the cloud media platform 213 permitscommunication between the modules, for example, 241, 242, 246, 247,etc., of the cloud media platform 213. The data bus 226 of thevoicemail/MCA server 209 permits communication between the modules, forexample, 222, 223, 227, 228, etc., of the voicemail/MCA server 209.

The network interfaces 253, 239, 246, and 227 enable connection of theuser device 255, the cloud incoming call routing server (ICRS) 210, thecloud media platform 213, and the voicemail/missed call alert (MCA)server 209 respectively, to the public data network 212. The networkinterfaces 233, 239, 220, and 246 enable connection of the carrier ICRS208, the cloud ICRS 210, the carrier media platform 207, and the cloudmedia platform 213 respectively, to the secure data network 211. In anembodiment, the network interfaces 253, 233, 239, 220, 246, and 227 ofthe user device 255, the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS 210, thecarrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform 213, and thevoicemail/MCA server 209 respectively, are provided as interface cardsalso referred to as line cards. The network interfaces 253, 233, 239,220, 246, and 227 are, for example, one or more of infrared (IR)interfaces, interfaces implementing Wi-Fi® of Wi-Fi AllianceCorporation, universal serial bus (USB) interfaces, FireWire® interfacesof Apple Inc., Ethernet interfaces, frame relay interfaces, cableinterfaces, digital subscriber line (DSL) interfaces, token ringinterfaces, peripheral controller interconnect (PCI) interfaces, localarea network (LAN) interfaces, wide area network (WAN) interfaces,interfaces using serial protocols, interfaces using parallel protocols,Ethernet communication interfaces, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)interfaces, high speed serial interfaces (HSSIs), fiber distributed datainterfaces (FDDIs), interfaces based on transmission control protocol(TCP)/internet protocol (IP), interfaces based on wirelesscommunications technology such as satellite technology, radio frequency(RF) technology, near field communication, etc. The I/O controllers ofthe user device 255, the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS 210, thecarrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform 213, and thevoicemail/MCA server 209 control input actions and output actionsperformed by the user device 255, the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS210, the carrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform 213, andthe voicemail/MCA server 209 respectively.

In an embodiment, the user device 255 further comprises a display unit249 that displays the graphical user interface (GUI) 205 d rendered bythe call receiving client application (CRCA) 205 c. The display unit 249is, for example, a video display, a liquid crystal display, a plasmadisplay, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) based display, etc. Thedisplay unit 249, via the GUI 205 d, displays information, displaysinterfaces, user interface elements such as swipable arrows, icons,search boxes, etc., for example, for logging in and logging out of theCRCA 205 c, interacting with the calling party device 201 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 2A-2B, etc. The CRCA 205 c renders the GUI 205 d onthe display unit 249 to receive user inputs, for example, entering theusername or number and password for signing into the CRCA 205 c. The GUI205 d is, for example, an online web interface, a web based downloadableapplication interface, a mobile based downloadable applicationinterface, etc.

The client database 251 in the user device 255, the carrier incomingcall routing server (ICRS) database 208 e in the carrier ICRS 208, thecloud ICRS database 210 n in the cloud ICRS 210, the carrier mediaplatform (MP) database 218 in the carrier media platform 207, the cloudMP database 244 in the cloud media platform 213, and thevoicemail/missed call alert (MCA) database 225 in the voicemail/MCAserver 209 can be any storage area or medium that can be used forstoring one or more numbers received from the user, registrationinformation, and deregistration information of the call receiving clientapplication (CRCA) 205 c on the user device 255. In an embodiment, theclient database 251, the carrier ICRS database 208 e, the cloud ICRSdatabase 210 n, the carrier MP database 218, the cloud MP database 244,and the voicemail/MCA database 225 are external databases, for example,a structured query language (SQL) data store or a not only SQL (NoSQL)data store such as the Microsoft® SQL Server®, the Oracle® servers, theMySQL® database of MySQL AB Company, the mongoDB® of MongoDB, Inc., theNeo4j graph database of Neo Technology Corporation, the Cassandradatabase of the Apache Software Foundation, the HBase® database of theApache Software Foundation, etc. In an embodiment, the client database251, the carrier ICRS database 208 e, the cloud ICRS database 210 n, thecarrier MP database 218, the cloud MP database 244, and thevoicemail/MCA database 225 can also be locations on respective filesystems of the user device 255, the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS210, the carrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform 213, andthe voicemail/MCA server 209 respectively. In another embodiment, theclient database 251, the carrier ICRS database 208 e, the cloud ICRSdatabase 210 n, the carrier MP database 218, the cloud MP database 244,and the voicemail/MCA database 225 can be remotely accessed by the userdevice 255, the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS 210, the carrier mediaplatform 207, the cloud media platform 213, and the voicemail/MCA server209 respectively via the public data network 212 or the secure datanetwork 211. In another embodiment, the client database 251, the carrierICRS database 208 e, the cloud ICRS database 210 n, the carrier MPdatabase 218, the cloud MP database 244, and the voicemail/MCA database225 are configured as cloud based databases implemented in a cloudcomputing environment, where computing resources are delivered as aservice over the secure data network 211 and the public data network212.

Computer applications and programs are used for operating the callreceiving client application (CRCA) 205 c on the user device 255, thecarrier incoming call routing server (ICRS) modules 231 on the carrierICRS 208, the cloud ICRS modules 237 on the cloud ICRS 210, the carriermedia platform (MP) modules 217 on the carrier media platform 207, thecloud MP modules 243 on the cloud media platform 213, and the missedcall alert notification module 224 on the voicemail/missed call alert(MCA) server 209. The programs are loaded onto the respective fixedmedia drives and into the memory units 250, 230, 236, 216, 242, and 223of the user device 255, the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS 210, thecarrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform 213, and thevoicemail/MCA server 209 respectively, via the respective removablemedia drives. In an embodiment, the computer applications and programsare loaded directly into the memory units 250, 230, 236, 216, 242, and223 of the user device 255, the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS 210,the carrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform 213, and thevoicemail/MCA 209 respectively, via the public data network 212 or thesecure data network 211.

Each of the processors 248, 229, 235, 215, 241, and 222 of the userdevice 255, the carrier incoming call routing server (ICRS) 208, thecloud ICRS 210, the carrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform213, and the voicemail/missed call alert (MCA) server 209 respectively,executes an operating system, for example, the Linux® operating system,the Unix® operating system, any version of the Microsoft® Windows®operating system, the Mac OS of Apple Inc., the IBM® OS/2, VxWorks® ofWind River Systems, Inc., QNX Neutrino® developed by QNX SoftwareSystems Ltd., the Palm OS®, the Solaris operating system developed bySun Microsystems, Inc., etc. The user device 255, the carrier ICRS 208,the cloud ICRS 210, the carrier media platform 207, the cloud mediaplatform 213, and the voicemail/MCA server 209, employ their respectiveoperating systems for performing multiple tasks. The operating systemsof the user device 255, the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS 210, thecarrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform 213, and thevoicemail/MCA server 209 are responsible for management and coordinationof activities and sharing of their respective resources. The operatingsystems further manage security, peripheral devices, and networkconnections. The operating systems recognize, for example, inputsprovided by the user via the user device 255, files, and directoriesstored locally on the fixed media drives. The operating systems of theuser device 255, the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS 210, the carriermedia platform 207, the cloud media platform 213, and the voicemail/MCAserver 209 execute different programs using the processors 248, 229,235, 215, 241, and 222 respectively. The processors 248, 229, 235, 215,241, and 222 and the operating systems of the user device 255, thecarrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS 210, the carrier media platform 207,the cloud media platform 213, and the voicemail/MCA server 209respectively, together define a computer platform for which applicationprograms in high level programming languages are written.

The processor 248 of the user device 255 retrieves instructions definedby the sign up module 205 e, the number validation module 205 f, thelogin module 205 g, the logout module 205 h, the primary number settingmodule 205 i, the additional number linking module 205 j, and thesecondary number delinking module 205 k of the call receiving clientapplication (CRCA) 205 c exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3B, in thememory unit 250 of the user device 255, for performing respectivefunctions disclosed in the detailed description of FIGS. 3A-3B. Theprocessor 248 of the user device 255 retrieves instructions forexecuting the modules 205 e, 205 f, 205 g, 205 h, 205 i, 205 j, 205 k,etc., of the CRCA 205 c. The processor 229 of the carrier incoming callrouting server (ICRS) 208 retrieves instructions defined by thevalidation code communication module 208 b of the validation module 208a, the query processing module 208 c, and the client registration module208 d, exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 4B, in the memory unit 230 of thecarrier ICRS 208, for performing respective functions disclosed in thedetailed description of FIG. 4B. The processor 229 of the carrier ICRS208 retrieves instructions for executing the modules 208 a, 208 b, 208c, 208 d, etc., of the carrier ICRS 208. The processor 235 of the cloudICRS 210 retrieves instructions defined by the user sign up processingmodule 210 a, the number validation module 210 c of the validationmodule 210 b, the login processing module 210 d, the logout processingmodule 210 e, the primary number setting module 210 f, the additionalnumber linking module 210 g, the number delinking module 210 h, thequery processing module 210 i, the client registration module 210 j, andthe data network connection detection module 210 l and the clientregistration detection module 210 m of the client applicationavailability detection module 210 k exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 4A,in the memory unit 236 of the cloud ICRS 210, for performing respectivefunctions disclosed in the detailed description of FIG. 4A. Theprocessor 235 of the cloud ICRS 210 retrieves instructions for executingthe modules 210 a, 210 b, 210 c, 210 d, 210 e, 210 f, 210 g, 210 h, 210i, 210 j, 210 k, 210 l, 210 m, etc., of the cloud ICRS 210.

The processor 215 of the carrier media platform 207 retrievesinstructions defined by the data network detection module 207 a, thecodec module 207 b, the voice over internet protocol (VOIP) dataexchange module 207 c, the incoming call registration module 207 d, theincoming call notification module 207 e, the device ringing module 207f, the call rejection module 207 g, the call connect module 207 h, thecall termination module 207 i, the incoming missed call processingmodule 207 j, the number extraction module 207 k, the query processingmodule 207 l, the response processing module 207 m, and the call routingmodule 207 n exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. 5A, in thememory unit 216 of the carrier media platform 207 for performingrespective functions disclosed in the detailed description of FIG. 3Aand FIG. 5A. The processor 215 of the carrier media platform 207retrieves instructions for executing the modules, for example, 207 a,207 b, 207 c, 207 d, 207 e, 207 f, 207 g, 207 h, 207 i, 207 j, 207 k,207 l, 207 m, 207 n, etc., of the carrier media platform 207. Theprocessor 241 of the cloud media platform 213 retrieves instructionsdefined by the data network detection module 213 a, the codec module 213b, the voice over internet protocol (VOIP) data exchange module 213 c,the incoming call registration module 213 d, the incoming callnotification module 213 e, the device ringing module 213 f, the callrejection module 213 g, the call connect module 213 h, the calltermination module 213 i, the incoming missed call processing module 213j, the number extraction module 213 k, the query processing module 213l, the response processing module 213 m, and the call routing module 213n exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3B and FIG. 5B, in the memory unit 242of the cloud media platform 213 for performing respective functionsdisclosed in the detailed description of FIG. 3B and FIG. 5B. Theprocessor 241 of the cloud media platform 213 retrieves instructions forexecuting the modules 213 a, 213 b, 213 c, 213 d, 213 e, 213 f, 213 g,213 h, 213 i, 213 j, 213 k, 213 l, 213 m, 213 n, etc., of the cloudmedia platform 213. The processor 222 of the voicemail/MCA server 209retrieves instructions defined by the missed call alert notificationmodule 224 in the memory unit 223 of the voicemail/MCA server 209. Themissed call alert notification module 224 sends a missed call alertnotification, for example, as a short message service (SMS) message tothe unreachable number indicating that the calling party device 201 wastrying to place a call to the user device 255 at a specified time. Theprocessor 222 of the voicemail/MCA server 209 retrieves instructions forexecuting the missed call alert notification module 224 of thevoicemail/MCA server 209.

A program counter determines the location of the instructions in each ofthe memory units 250, 230, 236, 216, 242, and 223. The program counterstores a number that identifies the current position in the program ofeach of the modules, for example, 205 d, 205 e, 205 f, 205 g, 205 h, 205i, 205 j, 205 k, etc., of the user device 255, the carrier incoming callrouting server (ICRS) modules 231, the cloud ICRS modules 237, thecarrier media platform (MP) modules 217, the cloud MP modules 243, andthe missed call alert notification module 224 of the voicemail/MCAserver 209 respectively. The instructions fetched by the processors 248,229, 235, 215, 241, and 222 from the memory units 250, 230, 236, 216,242, and 223 respectively, after being processed are decoded. Theinstructions are stored in an instruction register in each of theprocessors 248, 229, 235, 215, 241, and 222. After processing anddecoding, the processors 248, 229, 235, 215, 241, and 222 execute theinstructions, thereby performing one or more processes defined by thoseinstructions.

At the time of execution, the instructions stored in the instructionregister are examined to determine the operations to be performed. Theprocessors 248, 229, 235, 215, 241, and 222 of the user device 255, thecarrier incoming call routing server (ICRS) 208, the cloud ICRS 210, thecarrier media platform 207, the cloud media platform 213, and thevoicemail/MCA server 209 respectively, then perform the specifiedoperations. The operations comprise arithmetic operations and logicoperations. The respective operating systems perform multiple routinesfor performing a number of tasks required to assign the memory units250, 230, 236, 216, 242, and 223 for execution of the modules, forexample, 205 d, 205 e, 205 f, 205 g, 205 h, 205 i, 205 j, 205 k, etc.,on the user device 255, the carrier ICRS modules 231, the cloud ICRSmodules 237, the carrier media platform (MP) modules 217, the cloud MPmodules 243, and the missed call alert notification module 224 on thevoicemail/MCA server 209 respectively. The tasks performed by theoperating systems comprise, for example, assigning memory to themodules, for example, 205 d, 205 e, 205 f, 205 g, 205 h, 205 i, 205 j,205 k, etc., on the user device 255, the carrier ICRS modules 231, thecloud ICRS modules 237, the carrier MP modules 217, the cloud MP modules243, and the missed call alert notification module 224 on thevoicemail/MCA server 209 respectively, and to data used by the userdevice 255, the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS 210, the carrier mediaplatform 207, the cloud media platform 213, and the voicemail/MCA server209 respectively, moving data between the memory units 250, 230, 236,216, 242, and 223 and disk units, and handling input/output operations.The operating systems perform the tasks on request by the operations andafter performing the tasks, the respective operating systems transferthe execution control back to the processors 248, 229, 235, 215, 241,and 222. The processors 248, 229, 235, 215, 241, and 222 continue theexecution to obtain one or more outputs. The outputs of the execution ofthe modules, for example, 205 d, 205 e, 205 f, 205 g, 205 h, 205 i, 205j, 205 k, etc., on the user device 255, the carrier ICRS modules 231,the cloud ICRS modules 237, the carrier MP modules 217, the cloud MPmodules 243, and the missed call alert notification module 224 on thevoicemail/MCA server 209 respectively, are displayed on output devices.

For purposes of illustration, the detailed description refers to theuser device 255, the carrier incoming call routing server (ICRS) 208,the cloud ICRS 210, the carrier media platform 207, the cloud mediaplatform 213, and the voicemail/missed call alert (MCA) server 209 beingrun locally as single computer systems; however the scope of the methodand the system 200 disclosed herein is not limited to the user device255, the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS 210, the carrier mediaplatform 207, the cloud media platform 213, and the voicemail/MCA server209 being run locally on single computer systems via their respectiveoperating systems and processors 248, 229, 235, 215, 241, and 222, butmay be extended to run remotely over the secure data network 211 and thepublic data network 212 by employing a web browser and a remote server,a mobile phone, or other electronic devices. In an embodiment, one ormore portions of the call routing system 206 are distributed across oneor more computer systems coupled to the secure data network 211 and thepublic data network 212. Furthermore, although the detailed descriptionof FIGS. 6A-6B relates to an implementation of the call routing system206 comprising the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS 210, the carriermedia platform 207, the cloud media platform 213, and the voicemail/MCAserver 209, the call routing system 206 is not limited to be implementedusing the carrier ICRS 208, the cloud ICRS 210, the carrier mediaplatform 207, the cloud media platform 213, and the voicemail/MCA server209, but may be extended to be implemented using a single server or anetwork of two or more servers.

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium disclosed hereinstores computer program codes comprising instructions executable by oneor more of the processors 229, 235, 215, and 241 for routing an incomingcall made to one of multiple numbers of the user, to the call receivingclient application (CRCA) 205 c deployed on one or more of multiple userdevices when one of the numbers is not reachable. The computer programcodes implement processes of various embodiments disclosed above. Thecomputer program codes comprise a first computer program code forsetting up a user account for the user using one or more of multiplenumbers of the user in communication with the CRCA 205 c deployed on oneor more of the user devices; a second computer program code fordetecting availability of the CRCA 205 c on one or more of the userdevices over the public data network 212 to accept an incoming call; athird computer program code for receiving the incoming call made to oneof the numbers, when one of the numbers is not reachable; and a fourthcomputer program code for routing the received incoming call to the CRCA205 c on one or more of the user devices over the public data network212 on detecting the availability of the CRCA 205 c on one or more ofthe user devices over the public data network 212.

In an embodiment, the third computer program code comprises a fifthcomputer program code for receiving the incoming call made to one of thenumbers forwarded by a carrier via a routing number, and a sixthcomputer program code for determining whether one of the numbers islinked to the user account to route the incoming call to the callreceiving client application (CRCA) 205 c on one or more of the userdevices over the public data network 212. The computer program codesfurther comprise a seventh computer program code for validating thenumbers of the user through one or more of multiple authenticationmechanisms; an eighth computer program code for linking one or more ofthe numbers of the user to the user account; and a ninth computerprogram code for delinking one or more of the numbers of the user fromthe user account. In an embodiment, the second computer program codecomprises a tenth computer program code for detecting a connection ofthe CRCA 205 c to the public data network 212; an eleventh computerprogram code for detecting registration of the CRCA 205 c on one or moreof the user devices; and a twelfth computer program code for detectingderegistration of the CRCA 205 c on one or more of the user devices.

In an embodiment, the computer program codes further comprise athirteenth computer program code for routing the received incoming callto the voicemail/missed call alert (MCA) server 209 on detecting anunavailability of the call receiving client application (CRCA) 205 c oneach of one or more of the user devices. In an embodiment, the computerprogram codes further comprise a fourteenth computer program code forrouting the received incoming call to the voicemail/MCA server 209 ifthe incoming call is not accepted for a preconfigured period of timefrom any of the user devices. In an embodiment, the fourth computerprogram code comprises a fifteenth computer program code for routing thereceived incoming call to the CRCA 205 c on one or more of the userdevices over the public data network 212 via the cloud media platform213 deployed in the distributed cloud computing environment, when theincoming call is made to one of the numbers associated with a carrierthat does not permit direct data communication between servers in thesecure data network 211 of the carrier and the user devices. In anembodiment, the computer program codes further comprise a sixteenthcomputer program code for selecting an optimum codec for communicatingwith the CRCA 205 c on one or more of the user devices based onavailable bandwidth between the carrier media platform 207 or, in anembodiment, the cloud media platform 213, and the CRCA 205 c; and aseventeenth computer program code for implementing transcoding forconverting a codec used for communication between a network componentand the carrier media platform 207 or, in an embodiment, the cloud mediaplatform 213, to the optimum codec used for communication between thecarrier media platform 207 or, in an embodiment, the cloud mediaplatform 213, and the CRCA 205 c. In an embodiment, the computer programcodes further comprises an eighteenth computer program code for settinga password for logging into the CRCA 205 c deployed on one or more userdevices with one or more of the numbers of the user.

The computer program codes further comprise one or more additionalcomputer program codes for performing additional steps that may berequired and contemplated for routing an incoming call made to one ofmultiple numbers of a user, to the call receiving client application(CRCA) 205 c deployed on one or more user devices when one of thenumbers is not reachable. In an embodiment, a single piece of computerprogram code comprising computer executable instructions performs one ormore steps of the method disclosed herein for routing an incoming callmade to one multiple numbers of the user to the CRCA 205 c deployed onone or more user devices when one of the numbers is not reachable. Thecomputer program codes comprising computer executable instructions areembodied on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium. Theprocessors 229, 235, 215, and 241 of the carrier ICRS 208, the cloudICRS 210, the carrier media platform 207, and the cloud media platform213 respectively, retrieve their respective computer executableinstructions and execute them. When the computer executable instructionsare executed by the processors 229, 235, 215, and 241, the computerexecutable instructions cause the processors 229, 235, 215, and 241 toperform the steps of the method for routing an incoming call made to oneof multiple numbers of the user to the CRCA 205 c deployed on one ormore user devices when one of the numbers is not reachable.

It will be readily apparent in different embodiments that the variousmethods, algorithms, and computer programs disclosed herein areimplemented on non-transitory computer readable storage mediaappropriately programmed for computing devices. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage media participates in providing data, forexample, instructions that are read by a computer, a processor or asimilar device. In different embodiments, the “non-transitory computerreadable storage media” also refer to a single medium or multiple media,for example, a centralized database, a distributed database, and/orassociated caches and servers that store one or more sets ofinstructions that are read by a computer, a processor or a similardevice. The “non-transitory computer readable storage media” also referto any medium capable of storing or encoding a set of instructions forexecution by a computer, a processor or a similar device and that causesa computer, a processor or a similar device to perform any one or moreof the methods disclosed herein. Common forms of non-transitory computerreadable storage media comprise, for example, a floppy disk, a flexibledisk, a hard disk, magnetic tape, a laser disc, a Blu-ray Disc® of theBlu-ray Disc Association, any magnetic medium, a compact disc-read onlymemory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc (DVD), any optical medium, aflash memory card, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical mediumwith patterns of holes, a random access memory (RAM), a programmableread only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read only memory(EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory(EEPROM), a flash memory, any other memory chip or cartridge, or anyother medium from which a computer can read.

In an embodiment, the computer programs that implement the methods andalgorithms disclosed herein are stored and transmitted using a varietyof media, for example, the computer readable media in a number ofmanners. In an embodiment, hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware isused in place of, or in combination with, software instructions forimplementing the processes of various embodiments. Therefore, theembodiments are not limited to any specific combination of hardware andsoftware. The computer program codes comprising computer executableinstructions can be implemented in any programming language. Examples ofprogramming languages that can be used in the method disclosed hereinare C, C++, C#, Java®, JavaScript®, Fortran, Ruby, Perl®, Python®,Visual Basic®, hypertext preprocessor (PHP), Microsoft® .NET,Objective-C®, the Swift™ programming language of Apple Inc., etc. Otherobject-oriented, functional, scripting, and/or logical programminglanguages can also be used. In an embodiment, the computer program codesor software programs are stored on or in one or more mediums as objectcode. In another embodiment, various aspects of the method and thesystem 200 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2D, disclosed herein areimplemented in a non-programmed environment comprising documentscreated, for example, in a hypertext markup language (HTML), anextensible markup language (XML), or other format that render aspects ofthe graphical user interface (GUI) 205 d exemplarily illustrated inFIGS. 3A-3B and FIG. 6B, or perform other functions. In anotherembodiment, various aspects of the method and the system 200 disclosedherein are implemented as programmed elements, or non-programmedelements, or any suitable combination thereof.

Where databases are described such as the client database 251, thecarrier incoming call routing server (ICRS) database 208 e, the cloudICRS database 210 n, the carrier media platform database 218, and thevoicemail/missed call alert (MCA) database 225 exemplarily illustratedin FIGS. 6A-6B, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in theart that (i) alternative database structures to those described may beemployed, and (ii) other memory structures besides databases may beemployed. Any illustrations or descriptions of any sample databasesdisclosed herein are illustrative arrangements for storedrepresentations of information. In an embodiment, any number of otherarrangements are employed besides those suggested by tables illustratedin the drawings or elsewhere. Similarly, any illustrated entries of thedatabases represent exemplary information only; one of ordinary skill inthe art will understand that the number and content of the entries canbe different from those disclosed herein. In another embodiment, despiteany depiction of the databases as tables, other formats includingrelational databases, object-based models, and/or distributed databasesare used to store and manipulate the data types disclosed herein. Objectmethods or behaviors of a database can be used to implement variousprocesses such as those disclosed herein. In another embodiment, thedatabases are, in a known manner, stored locally or remotely from adevice that accesses data in such a database. In embodiments where thereare multiple databases in the system 200, the databases are integratedto communicate with each other for enabling simultaneous updates of datalinked across the databases, when there are any updates to the data inone of the databases.

The method and the system 200 disclosed herein can be configured to workin a network environment comprising one or more computers that are incommunication with one or more devices via the secure data network 211and the public data network 212 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2Dand FIGS. 6A-6B. In an embodiment, the computers communicate with thedevices directly or indirectly, via a wired medium or a wireless mediumsuch as the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN) or the Ethernet, a token ring, or via any appropriatecommunications mediums or combination of communications mediums. Each ofthe devices comprises processors, examples of which are disclosed above,that are adapted to communicate with the computers. In an embodiment,each of the computers is equipped with a network communication device,for example, a network interface card, a modem, or other networkconnection device suitable for connecting to the secure data network 211and the public data network 212. Each of the computers and the devicesexecutes an operating system, examples of which are disclosed above.While the operating system may differ depending on the type of computer,the operating system provides the appropriate communications protocolsto establish communication links with the secure data network 211 andthe public data network 212. Any number and type of machines may be incommunication with the computers.

The method and the system 200 disclosed herein are not limited to aparticular computer system platform, processor, operating system, ornetwork. In an embodiment, one or more aspects of the method and thesystem 200 disclosed herein are distributed among one or more computersystems, for example, servers configured to provide one or more servicesto one or more client computers, or to perform a complete task in adistributed system. For example, one or more aspects of the method andthe system 200 disclosed herein are performed on a client-server systemthat comprises components distributed among one or more server systemsthat perform multiple functions according to various embodiments. Thesecomponents comprise, for example, executable, intermediate, orinterpreted code, which communicate over the secure data network 211 andthe public data network 212 using communication protocols. The methodand the system 200 disclosed herein are not limited to be executable onany particular system or group of systems, and are not limited to anyparticular distributed architecture, network, or communication protocol.

The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose ofexplanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the methodand the system 200 disclosed herein. While the method and the system 200have been described with reference to various embodiments, it isunderstood that the words, which have been used herein, are words ofdescription and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further,although the method and the system 200 have been described herein withreference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the methodand the system 200 are not intended to be limited to the particularsdisclosed herein; rather, the method and the system 200 extend to allfunctionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are withinthe scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having thebenefit of the teachings of this specification, may effect numerousmodifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from thescope and spirit of the method and the system 200 disclosed herein intheir aspects.

We claim:
 1. A method for routing an incoming call to a clientapplication deployed on one or more user devices, said method employinga call routing system comprising one or more processors configured toexecute computer program instructions for performing said method, saidmethod comprising: setting up a user account for said user using one ormore numbers of said user by said call routing system in communicationwith said client application deployed on said one or more user devices,wherein said setting up said user account comprises validating said oneor more numbers of said user by said call routing system through one ormore authentication mechanisms; detecting availability of said clientapplication on said one or more user devices over a data network by saidcall routing system to accept said incoming call; receiving saidincoming call made to said one of said numbers by said call routingsystem; routing said received incoming call to said client applicationon said one or more user devices over said data network by said callrouting system on detecting said availability of said client applicationon said one or more user devices over said data network; and routingsaid received incoming call to an alerting server of said call routingsystem based on one of said incoming call not accepted for apreconfigured period of time by any of said user devices or on detectingunavailability of said client application on any of said user devices,wherein said alerting server includes one or both of a voicemailfunctionality and a missed call functionality.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein said authentication mechanisms comprise: (a) transmitting avalidation code to the number being validated by said call routingsystem via one of a text message and an outbound dialing call, receivingone of a code captured by said client application associated with thenumber being validated or a code input by the user into the clientapplication associated with the number being validated, and matchingsaid received input code with said transmitted validation code; (b)receiving a message sent from said client application associated withthe number being validated to a predetermined number and matching thenumber from which said message was received with the number beingvalidated; and (c) receiving a missed call placed by said clientapplication associated with the number being validated to a predefinednumber and matching the number from which said missed call was receivedwith the number being validated.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein saidincoming call is forwarded to said call routing system by a carrier viaa routing number, and wherein said one or more numbers of said user areassociated with one of a single carrier in a single geographicallocation, different carriers in said single geographical location, saidsingle carrier in a plurality of different geographical locations, andsaid different carriers in said different geographical locations.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising linking said numbers of said userto said user account, and delinking said numbers of said user from saiduser account, by said call routing system, based on user requirement. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein said detection of said availability ofsaid client application on said one or more user devices over said datanetwork to accept said incoming call comprises one of: detecting aconnection of said client application to said data network by said callrouting system; detecting registration of said client application onsaid one or more user devices by said call routing system; and detectingderegistration of said client application on said one or more userdevices by said call routing system.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid call routing system routes said received incoming call to saidclient application on said one or more user devices over said datanetwork via a media platform deployed in a distributed cloud computingenvironment, when said incoming call is made to any of said numbersassociated with a carrier that does not permit direct data communicationbetween servers in a secure data network of said carrier and said userdevices.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting anoptimum codec with transcoding when needed for communicating with saidclient application on said one or more user devices by said call routingsystem based on available bandwidth between said call routing system andsaid client application, wherein said transcoding converts a codec usedfor communication between a network component and said call routingsystem to said optimum codec.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising setting passwords for logging into said client applicationdeployed on said one or more user devices associated with said one ormore numbers of said user by said call routing system.
 9. A system forrouting an incoming call to a client application deployed on one or moreuser devices, said system comprising: a non-transitory computer readablestorage medium for storing computer program instructions defined bymodules of a call routing system; and one or more processorscommunicatively coupled to said non-transitory computer readable storagemedium for executing said computer program instructions defined by saidmodules of said call routing system, said modules of said call routingsystem comprising: a user sign up processing module for setting up auser account for said user using one or more numbers of said user incommunication with said client application deployed on said one or moreuser devices, wherein said setting up said user account comprisesvalidating said one or more numbers of said user through one or moreauthentication mechanisms a client application availability detectionmodule for detecting availability of said client application on said oneor more user devices over a data network to accept said incoming call;an incoming call registration module for receiving said incoming callmade to said one of said numbers; a call routing module for routing saidreceived incoming call to said client application on said one or moreuser devices over said data network on detecting said availability ofsaid client application on said one or more user devices over said datanetwork; and said call routing module further configured for routingsaid received incoming call to an alerting server of said call routingsystem based on one of said incoming call not accepted for apreconfigured period of time by any of said user devices or on detectingunavailability of said client application on any of said user devices,wherein said alerting server includes one or both of a voicemailfunctionality and a missed call functionality.
 10. The system of claim9, wherein said authentication mechanisms comprise: (a) transmitting avalidation code to the number being validated via one of a text messageand an outbound dialing call, receiving one of a code captured by saidclient application associated with the number being validated or a codeinput by the user into the client application associated with the numberbeing validated, and matching said received input code with saidtransmitted validation code; (b) receiving a message sent from saidclient application associated with the number being validated to apredetermined number and matching the number from which said message wasreceived with the number being validated; and (c) receiving a missedcall placed by said client application associated with the number beingvalidated to a predefined number and matching the number from which saidmissed call was received with the number being validated.
 11. The systemof claim 9, wherein said incoming call is forwarded to said call routingsystem by a carrier via a routing number, wherein said one or more userdevices deploying said client application run one of a single operatingsystem and different operating systems, and wherein said one or moreuser devices are manufactured by one of a single vendor and differentvendors, and wherein said one or more numbers of said user areassociated with one of a single carrier in a single geographicallocation, different carriers in said single geographical location, saidsingle carrier in a plurality of different geographical locations, andsaid different carriers in said different geographical locations. 12.The system of claim 9, wherein said modules of said call routing systemfurther comprise: an additional number linking module for linking saidnumbers of said user to said user account; and a secondary numberdelinking module for delinking said numbers of said user from said useraccount.
 13. The system of claim 9, wherein said client applicationavailability detection module comprises: a data network connectiondetection module for detecting a connection of said client applicationto said data network; and a client registration detection module fordetecting registration and deregistration of said client application onsaid one or more user devices.
 14. The system of claim 9, wherein saidcall routing module routes said received incoming call to said clientapplication on said one or more user devices over said data network viaa media platform deployed in a distributed cloud computing environment,when said incoming call is made to any of said numbers associated with acarrier that does not permit direct data communication between serversin a secure data network of said carrier and said user devices.
 15. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein said modules of said call routing systemfurther comprise a codec module for selecting an optimum codec withtranscoding when needed for communicating with said client applicationon said user devices based on available bandwidth between said callrouting system and said client application, wherein said transcodingconverts a codec used for communication between a network component andsaid call routing system to said optimum codec.
 16. The system of claim9, wherein said user sign up processing module sets passwords forlogging into said client application deployed on said one or more userdevices associated with said one or more numbers of said user.
 17. Anon-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon,computer program codes comprising instructions executable by one or moreprocessors for routing an incoming call to a call receiving clientapplication deployed on one or more user devices, said computer programcodes comprising: a first computer program code for setting up a useraccount for said user using one or more numbers of said user by saidcall routing system in communication with said client applicationdeployed on said one or more user devices, wherein said setting up saiduser account comprises validating said one or more numbers of said userby said call routing system through one or more authenticationmechanisms; a second computer program code for detecting availability ofsaid call receiving client application on said one or more user devicesover a data network to accept said incoming call; a third computerprogram code for receiving said incoming call made to said one of saidnumbers; and a fourth computer program code for routing said receivedincoming call to said call receiving client application on said one ormore of said user devices over said data network on detecting saidavailability of said call receiving client application on said one ormore of said user devices over said data network.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein said computerprogram codes further comprise: a fifth computer program code forforwarding said incoming call to said call routing system by a carriervia a routing number; a sixth computer program code for associating saidone or more numbers of said user with one of a single carrier in asingle geographical location, different carriers in said singlegeographical location, said single carrier in a plurality of differentgeographical locations, and said different carriers in said differentgeographical locations; a seventh computer program code for linking saidnumbers of said user to said user account, and delinking said numbers ofsaid user from said user account, by said call routing system, based onuser requirement; a eighth computer program code for detection of saidavailability of said client application on said one or more user devicesover said data network to accept said incoming call comprises one of:detecting a connection of said client application to said data networkby said call routing system; detecting registration of said clientapplication on said one or more user devices by said call routingsystem; and detecting deregistration of said client application on saidone or more user devices by said call routing system; a ninth computerprogram code for routing said received incoming call to an alertingserver of said call routing system based on one of said incoming callnot accepted for a preconfigured period of time by any of said userdevices or on detecting unavailability of said client application on anyof said user devices, wherein said alerting server includes one or bothof a voicemail functionality and a missed call functionality; a tenthcomputer program code for routing said received incoming call to saidclient application on said one or more user devices over said datanetwork via a media platform deployed in a distributed cloud computingenvironment, when said incoming call is made to any of said numbersassociated with a carrier that does not permit direct data communicationbetween servers in a secure data network of said carrier and said userdevices an eleventh computer program code for selecting an optimum codecwith transcoding when needed for communicating with said clientapplication on said one or more user devices by said call routing systembased on available bandwidth between said call routing system and saidclient application, wherein said transcoding converts a codec used forcommunication between a network component and said call routing systemto said optimum codec; a twelfth computer program code for settingpasswords for logging into said client application deployed on said oneor more user devices associated with said one or more numbers of saiduser by said call routing system; a thirteenth computer program code forvalidating said one or more numbers of said user by said call routingsystem through one or more authentication mechanisms, wherein saidauthentication mechanisms comprise: (a) transmitting a validation codeto the number being validated by said call routing system via one of atext message and an outbound dialing call, receiving one of a codecaptured by said client application associated with the number beingvalidated or a code input by the user into the client applicationassociated with the number being validated, and matching said receivedinput code with said transmitted validation code; (b) receiving amessage sent from said client application associated with the numberbeing validated to a predetermined number and matching the number fromwhich said message was received with the number being validated; and (c)receiving a missed call placed by said client application associatedwith the number being validated to a predefined number and matching thenumber from which said missed call was received with the number beingvalidated.